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Illinois Babies
"Reserving" Street Parking
This isn't baby related at all, but something interesting to discuss.
I'm new to Chicago and this is my first winter here (originally from Canada, so I'm no stranger to snow). I can't believe all of the people who "reserve" a parking spot on the street with chairs, stools, stinky old mattresses, etc.
I've never seen this before and can't quite believe it. I think it's so rude! If only everyone who parks on the street actually cleaned their spot out well, there shouldn't be any problem parking after a big snowfall! In a perfect world I guess...
Maybe I'm crazy. Does anyone else want to weigh in?!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: "Reserving" Street Parking
This is our first winter in Chicago too...we were against the whole lawn chair dibs rule when we first heard about it, but we've now dug out 4 spots!! And last night when we got back from our friends place to watch the game the lawn chair we hesitantly thrown into in the middle of the street (our first try at the tradition) and our spot gone, so off my husband went to dig again at 10pm lsat night.
I'm usually pretty laid back about these things but it really bothers me that no one else on our street is digging, and the ones that do dig have done really half ass jobs. Its really soured my opinion of my Lincoln Park neighbors! Now hesitant to go anywhere with my car as I'm worried I'll be without husband and have to try start shoveling at 8 months pregnant to get a place to put my car...
click the pic (blog)
I'm a Chicago native and its second nature to me to "reserve" my parking spot. Its not so much my neighbors, but their guests that seem to not be considerate of the block's residents.
But I've seen some mean things happen to cars whose owners took it upon themselves to move items that were "reserving" the spot. Pouring water on the locks and the door jams then covering the locks with snow, removing the tire valve. Some residents take it pretty seriously.
I just get really pissed and curse the car ower as I or my husband dig another spot.
Ha! Well take it from a North Side-er, they're not plowing side streets over here either! I hate this tradition with a searing passion. Even after I shoveled for 2+ hrs, while most of my neighbors were hiding out indoors, I still didn't want to "save" my space. But after seeing my street filled with highchairs and empty kitty litter jugs, I figured if I can't beat em I might as well join em.
I hate people who don't shovel, period. Frigging jerks. Get off your arse, go get a shovel and get rid of the snow, whether it be on the sidewalk or where cars are parked. Do it for your elderly neighbors. Do it for your handicapped neighbors. Be a kind person and just do it.
Just don't put it in the bike lanes (AHEM CITY OF CHICAGO PLOWS) or I will be tempted to throw bricks at you as you drive by.
Seriously. I have never experienced such laziness. I cannot get any where right now without a struggle because people aren't shoveling their sidewalks (or doing such a half-assed job that I can't get through with a stroller regardless) and because the plows are putting piles and piles of plowed snow in the bike lanes.
This city can bite me right now..
My neighbour parked in someone's reserved spot and woke up to flat tires and his wipers torn off! People are insane! I have lived in a lot of different cities and have never witnessed this before.
I feel bad because I've been removing chairs while I'm out walking my dog but I really hope the people who end up parking in those spots aren't getting their cars wrecked!
I've dug out my car but haven't moved it since the storm because there's nowhere to park around my workplace now! CTA is becoming my best friend.
It seems like a no-win situation. Shouldn't the city take some sort of stance on this? Or is it too far gone?
lol..one of our neighbors put out tall laundry bins but spray painted black skulls on all sides of the bins. It's hilarious. Touch and you die! It's pretty serious business in Bridgeport. When my DH moved in, he wanted to take someone's reserved spot and I had to remind him that slashed tires was a possibility. Since the storm, we've only used my car...his is down the block somewhere under piles of snow still.
click the pic (blog)
wth?? why would you do this??
Have you lost your mind? What would compel you to do this?
I can guarantee that at least one of those cars has gotten tires slashed, windows broken or some kind of damage done to it.
A couple of years ago Mayor Daley said it was okay so it's really been a free for all ever since. I don't really remember it growing up. We lived on a corner with a garage and driveway.
I'm on the north side and the plows came Friday for me as well. Also, one of my co-workers got her windows bashed out for taking someone's spot that didn't even have a chair in it. It's not just the south side.
Wow, relax ladies!!!!!!
I didn't realize the whole chair thing was taken so seriously and have stopped removing them since I understand things a bit better now. I only ever removed 2 chairs and am so sorry I did now! I was naive and didn't think that people would actually take destructive measures. Now I know!!
Thanks to everyone's previous responses, now I understand (not that I agree with) the situation better!
Thanks for posting that! Serves the lady right for stealing the shovel in the first place! My question is why did she have to use a broom to clean the car off the second time? Where'd the stolen shovel go?!