http://atriplex007.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] atriplex007.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2011-02-05 11:24 am
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Disturbing comments from the City of Somerville on Boston.com

Was anyone disturbed by City of Somerville spokeswoman, Jackie Rosetti's, comments about the city's parking policy on Boston.com?  I found this comment particularly disturbing: "...the ban discourages commuters from leaving their cars on city streets for several days while they turn to public transportation."

I understand the need for an enforceable parking policy that discourages residents from using city streets as their own parking lots/driveways--oh wait, don't residents already do that by throwing trash in the street to save spaces?  That any city, let alone "The Model City", discourages residents from using public transportation in any way is a crime.  In fact, it should be a crime for a city not to encourage the use of public transportation.

I think the 48-hr parking policy is unreasonable for residential streets.  Instead, I'd like to see something like a 7-day policy, whereby residents that use public transportation to commute, but still own a car, have the weekend to use, and therefore move, their car to avoid being ticketed or towed.  Am I way off base here?  I'm new to the community and have lived in a city without a car for years.  I share my current car with my partner, who also commutes via the T.  I know that it's a privilege, not a right, to park on a public, city street.  That said I don't think the current parking policy is benefiting our community.  There are healthier ways for the city to generate income.

[identity profile] emannths.livejournal.com 2011-02-05 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I agree that discouraging people from taking public transportation is not a good idea. So I was inclined to agree with you.

But I couldn't believe that the city would want to create such an odd incentive, so I tried to come up with an alternative that might make sense. The only thing I could think of was that they're not trying to encourage people to drive to work--instead, they're trying to discourage people that take the T from owning a car/parking it on the street. Basically, it's a way to make owning a car a PITA, so that you only own a car if you really want/need it. Of course, they could probably accomplish the same thing by charging more for resident permits...

[identity profile] intuition-ist.livejournal.com 2011-02-05 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
or they could just give up and admit that more people own cars than there are spots to park in Somerville, *and the parking situation is never going to get better, no matter what "incentives" they use*, and start building giant parking garages near the T stations.

the garages would probably bring in more revenue than the various levels of tickets that get foisted on the unfortunate street parkers, and it would eliminate at least some of the need for ticket givers. two birds...

[identity profile] koshmom.livejournal.com 2011-02-06 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
I doubt they'd build garages, in light of their recentish new tactics, such as "all streets are resident parking only". Are you saying they need to build garages for residents only? If not, then the city leaders have already shown their opinion: They want Somerville to become Boston, where cars are discouraged at all costs, and everyone takes the T to Somerville, leaving their cars "somewhere else". What do residents of Boston do with their car if they don't have a private parking spot? Answer: they sell their car, and rent when they need one.

[identity profile] intuition-ist.livejournal.com 2011-02-06 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
ah, but i was talking about people facing reality, you see, not some pipe dream from the city. reality, it seems, is out of fashion these days.

[identity profile] prunesnprisms.livejournal.com 2011-02-05 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I think it's more like what srakkt said earlier in the post thread--it's a way to create equity on the street for those who must use their cars daily. Unfortunately the MBTA is not a solution that fits everyone's needs. One doesn't own a street parking place, it's shared by everyone with a valid sticker, so you shouldn't get to keep it.

[identity profile] josephineave.livejournal.com 2011-02-05 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Let's remember that when these rules were enacted, half of Somerville wasn't permit parking. With the 48 hour rule, cars couldn't sit in non-permit parking for long times (perhaps from Cambridge or another city) and the city has greater flexibility in ensuring that owners move cars when street emergencies are declared.

When I moved here in 1994, the fine was $2, so it wasn't that much of a motivator.