Parking while on Vacation

[spaz-i-mota.livejournal.com]

Yet another parking question.  

I'll be out of town May 17-24th - which, like this week, happens to be a week where cleaning it occuring on both sides of the street on Wednesday and Thursday.  I don't have anyone who can move my car Wednesday night, and would like to find something cheaper than the $50 parking ticket as an alternate idea?

I will call Somerville 311 as well, but wanted to see if anyone sugguestions.  If I get any info from 311, i'll post it as an FYI.

Thank you.

Comments

[library-sexy.livejournal.com]

Park in another neighborhood that is not too far way and walk back to your house. Not all of Somerville is cleaned on Wednesday and Thursday of that week.

[spaz-i-mota.livejournal.com]

Funny you should mention that. I just got off the phone with Somerville 311, and had asked this very question to find a street cleaning schedule for other streets in the area. 311 informed me that if I don't "normally" park in a neighborhood, the neighbors are allowed to complain and i'll get a ticket. She informed me that there is a law banning parking on *any* public way for more than 48 hours, but if its 'your area' they don't typically pursue this. If it's not, and neighbors complain, resulting in a ticket(s).

I checked online and the area on Eastern side of Davis seems to clean on a different schedule that works while I'm gone. But I'm not sure if the neighborhood will revolt against my car and rat me out....

311 made it seem that this is quite likely to happen.

[library-sexy.livejournal.com]

Yes Somerville has the 48hour law so there is a chance of a ticket. You do hear of folks getting them, but I know many folks who keep their cars parked for longer than 48 hours who never have issues.

Personally I would take the risk and park in another neighborhood. If you are not comfortable with that you can park over the line in Medford. There are some areas of Medford that require a permit, but not all of it. This might not be a walk back to your house but I am sure you can do it with a quick bus ride.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

Probably the closest street in medford is St Clements Rd which is just over the Medford line between Warner and College Ave. On the side next to the church/school it is completely open parking from April through November (I think I have the dates right, it's been a year since I've lived there).

The only caveat is that they do street sweeping about once every other month there and notify people by stapling flyers to all the trees in the area a few days before hand. If you're extremely unlucky you could park there before the flyering goes on and find yourself towed a week later.

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

I once parked for three days **around the corner** from my usual street -- still within view of my apartment -- and got a huge ticket and towed. Apparently my 10 year old truck was considered "an eyesore" by the woman whose house it was parked in front of. Quite coincidentally, she was also the person who usually parked in that spot. So they do enforce, especially if you're unlucky enough to park in front of a nosy parker.

[haptotrope.livejournal.com]

I got many of them when I had a car. MANY. And they will tow you for it. To the point where when I got to the police station, and they asked me "What have you done to your neighbors?" -- when the answer was ... parked there.

you may find it handy to find a friend who you may lend your car to, and lend it to them... or renting a garage, or a neighbors parking space.

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

you need friends with driveways.

[felessa.livejournal.com]

Do you need a driveway? We usually have an extra space in the very back of the driveway and I can talk to my landlady about letting you keep your car there temporarily if you need to.

That is great!

[spaz-i-mota.livejournal.com]

I would be the happiest person in the world if this panned out!

The options above are all great, but nothing seems cut and dry with street parking scenarios. I'm even antsy about leaving my car at Alewife, I'd be pushing the 7 day rule to basically 8 with the times of my flights.

I would need to leave my car by Friday night, May 16th, to May 24th - or whenever I could get my car w/o inconviencing people afterwards to return to my street. I don't really use it for work, so I can get it when its easiest for others.

if you hear anything, let me know. That'd be great. Thanks!!

Re: That is great!

[felessa.livejournal.com]

Send me an email at Elizabeth.Hutchinson@tufts.edu and I'll ask her this weekend about it and get back to you.

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

park at the alewife T garage, it's like $3/day.

[spaz-i-mota.livejournal.com]

I looked into that. It's $5 a day (still less than a ticket), but its a 7 day max, and I'll actually be parking for 8 days. I need to leave my car Friday night b/c my flight leaves before the T starts up Saturday morning. Thanks for the thought though.

Worst case, I roll the dice in some other neighborhood.

[haptotrope.livejournal.com]

you can also park at the airport. not less than a ticket, but less than a tow.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

all you get is a ticket if you don't move during street cleaning? you guys are lucky.

$50

[spaz-i-mota.livejournal.com]

I've gotten one ticket for not moving so far for $50. I don't know if they tow you after a certain point or anything.

They will tow if you're in the wrong neighborhood though, eventhough resident stickers are all the same (unlike vistor's passes).

Re: $50

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

in cambridge they tow you immediately and give you a ticket.

there's nothing like that feeling of walking outside and realizing your car is gone.

Re: $50

[spaz-i-mota.livejournal.com]

yuck! that definately would hurt more!

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

some of the spots in many of the streets around porter (in cambridge) do not require resident stickers to park, and i've had friends leave their car there for a week or so at a time no problem. (Richland is the easiest)

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

Technically you can't park on any street in Cambridge without a resident permit for more than 24 hours, even if no signs are posted. But I heard they only enforce this for out-of-state cars.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

i've never had it enforced on any friends, including out of state plates, but a good point

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Try parking next to the now condemned hidden donut factory.