So if you live in a place where it snows often -- what do you do about parking?

[Nancy]

I have no idea. That's why I said I don't personally know anyone who doesn't have a driveway or parking lot. We don't have housing like that here, and my guess is that our winter weather probably has a lot to do with that.

Right, even in the city of Buffalo itself the houses and even the multi-unit housing all have driveways, they also have on street and off street parking. Apartment complexes usually have enough parking for at least one car per unit. Street parking is available for more cars.

I complain that from November 1-March 31st we can't park on the street overnight even if it isn't snowing (suburb, not city)...but I guess we don't have it so bad.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Our community will bulldoze the snow into trucks and remove it off the streets if the piles get too deep. We have odd/even parking for plowing but it isn't always enforced. I haven't lived in the city of Chicago for a dozen years (although I only live blocks away) but spot saving is one of the more controversial things people do. It is sort of a cultural tradition.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/01/mell-on-snow-dibs-knock-it-off.html

I'm guessing they did the bulldoze thing, because that's not what it looks like on my street. My street looks more like this:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/weather/bal-snow-chairs-0209,0,6906642.story

As you can see, there are plenty of spaces that normally would be parking but which are filled with giant piles of snow. In addition to get your car out you've had to dig through a 4 foot high wall of snow -- in my case 3 times, because that's how many times we got plowed back in.

 

[golfgal]

My guess is that those northern, snowy cities do a MUCH better job at plowing than DC does (which is HORRENDOUS).

DC has snow emergency too, but I'm not sure why. When I left my office on Friday afternoon and drove through town, I was shocked that so many residential streets were still snowed in. It had been 2 days since the last snowfall and they hadn't been touched.

They also decided that at 6:00 a.m on Friday morning (the absolute start of rush hour) to do major snow removal on the ramps off the freeway.

This is a MAJOR part of it too. First, we wouldn't have been shut down for a week like they were in DC. If we got 40"of snow on a Saturday we wouldn't even have a 2 hour late start on Monday, the snow would have been gone by mid-day Sunday. When a major storm like this hits there are snow emergency routes--major roads in towns and freeways--that are plowed around the clock to keep them clear. You will see one plow per lane going down the highways and freeways to keep them clear. In the residential areas if you leave for work in the morning your street will be clear by the time you get home that evening. On our city website it says that it takes 8 hours to plow all of the roads and parking lots(city owned) in our town curb to curb.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

This is a MAJOR part of it too. First, we wouldn't have been shut down for a week like they were in DC. If we got 40"of snow on a Saturday we wouldn't even have a 2 hour late start on Monday, the snow would have been gone by mid-day Sunday. When a major storm like this hits there are snow emergency routes--major roads in towns and freeways--that are plowed around the clock to keep them clear. You will see one plow per lane going down the highways and freeways to keep them clear. In the residential areas if you leave for work in the morning your street will be clear by the time you get home that evening. On our city website it says that it takes 8 hours to plow all of the roads and parking lots(city owned) in our town curb to curb.

You know, though, as someone who lives in a place where snow like this is once or twice a decade, I wouldn't want my city spending what Minnesota probably spends on snow plows etc . . . I wouldn't want the urban sprawl that comes with having every apartment building having a parking lot, and houses far enough apart to have driveways, etc . . .

Just like you'd probably be annoyed if your city spent what mine does on homeland security.

 

[auntie]

In Manhattan the snow is plowed, but it's taken away and dumped in the river.
Suburbs where we live another issue. We received a telephone recording from the Town Supervisor's office asking that everyone move their vehicles into their driveways so as to make it easier for the plows. We managed to fit FIVE cars and a 30 ft. travel trailer into our driveway.(the RV is always there on a widen area of the drive at the back of the house) It wasn't easy..but we did it. The cars where bumper to bumper and covered the apron to the driveway, but we managed.
Our neighbor..who only has two cars..and a driveway that could have accomodated four cars, kept one of his cars in front of the house, and one in his driveway.
Needless to say..when the plow came, it didn't come in close in front of our house because it had to swing back out in order to go around our next door neighbor who parked in the road.
We had to dig out all that ice that the plow left deposited in front of our house in order to carve out a parking space for one of our cars. The other four have remained in the driveway, and we play musical cars whenever someones got to leave.

"Snow Etiquette" as I like to call it...is non existent around here anymore.
I would NEVER think of pulling into a spot on the block that someone else had to dig out of, and I'd hope that no one would pull into the spot in front of my home, that my daughter and I spent TWO HOURS digging out of. Only...unfortunately people like my new neighbor would do just that.
We got ourselves a couple of traffic cones...they got the idea.
If you want a spot..then dig out the one in front of your own house.

 

[golfgal]

You know, though, as someone who lives in a place where snow like this is once or twice a decade, I wouldn't want my city spending what Minnesota probably spends on snow plows etc . . . I wouldn't want the urban sprawl that comes with having every apartment building having a parking lot, and houses far enough apart to have driveways, etc . . .

Just like you'd probably be annoyed if your city spent what mine does on homeland security.

Well, in a typical winter we get snow at least once/week so the snowplows are more than justified. We have more snow then you do, it just didn't fall all at once.

DC is a lot more sprawled then the Twin Cities area (granted there are more people but there is a LOT more sprawl). We like having a large yard, thanks anyway. I could never live in a place where I lived on top of my neighbors.

 

[wdwfan16]

I will not live anywhere that does not have off street parking. I would not consider a home without a garage.

The city near us opened the parking garages for free before the storm hits and then tells you when your car needs to be moved. This makes snow removal easier. They are also hauling away snow in trucks and dumping into unused parking lots or the like.

 

[auntie]

This is a MAJOR part of it too. First, we wouldn't have been shut down for a week like they were in DC. If we got 40"of snow on a Saturday we wouldn't even have a 2 hour late start on Monday, the snow would have been gone by mid-day Sunday. When a major storm like this hits there are snow emergency routes--major roads in towns and freeways--that are plowed around the clock to keep them clear. You will see one plow per lane going down the highways and freeways to keep them clear. In the residential areas if you leave for work in the morning your street will be clear by the time you get home that evening. On our city website it says that it takes 8 hours to plow all of the roads and parking lots(city owned) in our town curb to curb.

We found this to be the case in the White Mountains of New Hampshire as well. My parents had a condo there, and we happened to be there one February. I was watching TV..and they are reporting there will be snow overnight.
I'm freaking out..thinking "where are we supposed to move our cars..how much snow is it? is it 3 inches?...10 inches...?
It was NO BIG DEAL. In the morning the plow was outside..he waited while the owners back their cars into the already plowed roadway..and then he came in and cleared your parking area.
THERE WAS 14" OF SNOW! We thought we'd be snowed in. NOPE...the town was in full operation and we went about our day like any other.
The kids enjoyed the snow, sledding and building snow men most of the day. Went food shopping,...parking lots and roads totally plowed.
They even plowed the side walks...with a mini snow plow with a cage around the driver.
I'd love to have one for my own driveway...

I think areas that receive huge amounts of snow on a regular basis are just better equipped to handle it.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Well, in a typical winter we get snow at least once/week so the snowplows are more than justified. We have more snow then you do, it just didn't fall all at once.

DC is a lot more sprawled then the Twin Cities area (granted there are more people but there is a LOT more sprawl). We like having a large yard, thanks anyway. I could never live in a place where I lived on top of my neighbors.

I think you read my post to mean something different than I meant it to. My point wasn't that your city shouldn't have those things. I used to live in Canada (but was too young to drive so I never thought about parking) and I can tell you I was exceedingly glad that my city prioritized snow plows, including the little ones that zipped along the side walk. I'm sure that if I lived in the Twin Cities I'd feel the same exact way. But things that are eminently sensible in Minnesota would be, IMO, a waste of money here.

For the past week we've been hearing that our government should do things like those Northern cities, and I just wanted to point out that for our government to do so would require both squandering resources, and changing the nature of our city.

As for the sprawl -- DC's got 8667 people per square mile, Minneapolis has 6307, it's definitely more spread out. To be clear, I'm not talking about neighborhoods like yours (suburban?) we have those too. But moving the houses far enough apart to allow driveways, would completely change the character of my neighborhood, which given it's history and rich character, would be a shame.

 

[kirbydog48]

In Boston, fights over parking spaces in residential areas can get ugly. People put items on the street to "save" their spot...ironing boards, chairs, sofas. If someone dares to park in a shoveled out spot that's been "saved", they may find their tires slashed (or worse) when they return.

 

[golfgal]

I think you read my post to mean something different than I meant it to. My point wasn't that your city shouldn't have those things. I used to live in Canada (but was too young to drive so I never thought about parking) and I can tell you I was exceedingly glad that my city prioritized snow plows, including the little ones that zipped along the side walk. I'm sure that if I lived in the Twin Cities I'd feel the same exact way. But things that are eminently sensible in Minnesota would be, IMO, a waste of money here.

For the past week we've been hearing that our government should do things like those Northern cities, and I just wanted to point out that for our government to do so would require both squandering resources, and changing the nature of our city.

As for the sprawl -- DC's got 8667 people per square mile, Minneapolis has 6307, it's definitely more spread out. To be clear, I'm not talking about neighborhoods like yours (suburban?) we have those too. But moving the houses far enough apart to allow driveways, would completely change the character of my neighborhood, which given it's history and rich character, would be a shame.

I agree, it doesn't make sense for DC to invest in the snow removal equipment that we have either. It seems, though, when you get snow, it is a LOT of snow. You just don't get it as frequently.

As for your numbers, no, that just means that DC has more people living on top of each other, not that DC is not more sprawled . I have been to both places, DC has a LOT more sprawl.

 

[akcire]

If you want a spot..then dig out the one in front of your own house.

My parents had a neighbor like yours who never moved his car, and then parked in front of their house in the nicely plowed spot. This went on for two years until we got a huge snow fall one night, something like 30 inches.

By this time my father was ready to do bodily harm to this neighbor, and all the other neighbors knew it too. What horribly devious thing did they do? My dad and 10 of his friends and a bunch of the neighbors shoveled about 6 houses worth of snow around the neighbors car, there was a good amount of adult libations involved in this caper. This guys car was encapsulated in a 6 foot wall of snow. The next morning the neighbor rang my parents doorbell and asked to borrow a shovel, needless to say his efforts with the shovel were futile. I think it was 6 or 8 weeks before he could drive the car.

The next winter the neighbor took care of shoveling his own snow and has never since taken my fathers shoveled spot. The funniest thing about the whole situation is that he has never said a word about the snow wall.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I agree, it doesn't make sense for DC to invest in the snow removal equipment that we have either. It seems, though, when you get snow, it is a LOT of snow. You just don't get it as frequently.

As for your numbers, no, that just means that DC has more people living on top of each other, not that DC is not more sprawled . I have been to both places, DC has a LOT more sprawl.

I wonder if you mean that the Washington Metropolitan area has more sprawl? I'm just scratching my head on the idea of DC being particularly sprawled, but then realize that many people from out of the area don't realize that DC refers to the city limits -- it's like the difference between saying that there's sprawl in New York (definitely) and sprawl in Manhattan (not so much).

If you posted that Maryland and Virginia have sprawl, I'd be nodding my head like crazy. Whether it's more than the Twin Cities, I can't say, but definitely some sprawl there.

 

[jlima]

Ahhh . . . thank goodness I live in Las Vegas, where you never have to shovel the heat.

 

[auntie]

Ahhh . . . thank goodness I live in Las Vegas, where you never have to shovel the heat.

Ok ...no sunny, warm weather type talk is permitted in this thread! Them there is fightin' words!

 

[golfgal]

I wonder if you mean that the Washington Metropolitan area has more sprawl? I'm just scratching my head on the idea of DC being particularly sprawled, but then realize that many people from out of the area don't realize that DC refers to the city limits -- it's like the difference between saying that there's sprawl in New York (definitely) and sprawl in Manhattan (not so much).

If you posted that Maryland and Virginia have sprawl, I'd be nodding my head like crazy. Whether it's more than the Twin Cities, I can't say, but definitely some sprawl there.

Yes, I meant the entire metro area but DC is 68.3 square miles and Minneapolis is 55 sq miles if you want to get technical .

 

[LoraJ]

This winter we rented a spot in a parking garage on our block. It is so worth it not having to dig out my car in the morning.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Yes, I meant the entire metro area but DC is 68.3 square miles and Minneapolis is 55 sq miles if you want to get technical .

DC's got an extra 225,000 people, and an extra 10 square miles. I've heard Minneapolis is a great city, just want to be clear I'm not knocking it.

 

[golfgal]

DC's got an extra 225,000 people, and an extra 10 square miles. I've heard Minneapolis is a great city, just want to be clear I'm not knocking it.

I know, I am just razzing you too.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

We get plenty of snow here but everyone has a driveway, most have garages as well. We aren't even allowed to park on our street overnight, then again two cars can barely pass each other on this street when there is no snow There is no way I would be parking on the street in the snow... that is a few hundred feet down a steep hill from my house, not happening.