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Member:
You forgot one...
...what about those of us who don't own a vehicle and take the T all the time? The pedestrians among us, whose main contact with cars is dodging them crossing the street?
You know, I can see both
You know, I can see both sides. Yes, it IS irritating to have to move your car (I assume). And the city does have bigger fish to fry. But clean, safe cities start with clean, safe neighborhoods. Not all cities provide streetcleaning services; it is unfortunate that streets have to stay cluttered and dirty because some residents can't take the time to move their cars a block over. Sure, streetcleaning won't fix what's wrong with Boston. But it would be nice if people had at least a small sense of community, and a desire to keep their neighborhood tidy.
/Pollyanna
Pollyanna, The issue is not
Pollyanna,
The issue is not that residents with cars don't feel like moving their car one block, it's that there isn't a space to move their car within 10 blocks due to construction tow zones, moving trucks tow zones, street cleaning tow zones, etc. The city is very dense and their are a lot of people, some with cars, and many many students with cars who need to play musica chairs parking spaces on street cleaning days. If it were as simple as moving one's vehicle one block, there wouldn't be a problem.
Here's the thing, though -
Here's the thing, though - if there isn't space to have a car, don't have a car. That what I did when I was a student, and I came through it just fine. I zipcar'd when I needed to, and now that I'm graduated, have a job, and have moved to a less-dense area, I am picking up my car from storage. "But there's no parking" is not a good answer - of COURSE there's no parking. It's a city. And believe me, after living in the Fenway for two years, and watching the absolute, utter disregard that people have for any sort of posted regulation, for many, it IS just too damn much work to move their car.
not that easy
I work outside the city. The commuter line schedule does not make it possible for me tot ake a train to work. What are people like me supposed to do?
Not easy but do-able
The solutions are
1) to move closer to your job ... Okay, yeah, obviously not easy to pull up stakes and move away from roomates/spouses or take kids out of schools.
2) to get parking ... Can be pricey in certain neighborhoods but I lucked out with this one. I would never move to a place without washer/dryer or parking. (And it has to take my cat).
3) to pay attention to the signs and circle the blocks a few times on Street Sweeping nights. Stinks when you went grocery shopping and its raining and you need to lug your stuff a few blocks. But this is obviously the easist solution.
4) to get up early on the morning of street sweeping day and drive to work at 7am and beat the tow trucks. This was usually my solution when I lived without parking. This solution forced the creation of rule #2 for me. Doesn't work well in the neighborhoods that street sweep at 1am.
There are upsides and downsides to city living. There are also upsides and downsides to car ownership.
towing - street cleaning
I was one of those who had their cars towed. I had a job interview that morning and completely forgot that it was that particular every other Monday and I had parked on that particular side of the street the night before. Walk out to find my car missing, along with everyone else's and had to spend a lot of money on a cab ride to get to my interview. Guess what, the city DID NOT CLEAN THE STREET. I was out $165 for towing, ticket and cab ride. Oh yeah, and I didn't get the job. Thanks for nothing!
It's part of urban life
Part of living in a city, is playing by the rules so that we can all live on top of one another without going crazy. Sometimes playing by the rules is a pain... but they're there for a reason.
Personally, I wish Boston would enforce the parking rules much more rigorously so that these things wouldn't come as a shock to people AND so the city would have more tax $$'s to pay for things like more cops to stop those other, more violent crimes.
And... if there isn't enough room on your street for you to park legally, maybe you should rethink owning a car.
Please.
Rethink...owning a car?! Are you serious? Are you against the AMERICAN DREAM? The romance of the OPEN ROAD? The god-given RIGHT to burn copious amounts of fossil fuel?
I hope you are not seriously suggesting that maybe people should use the "T", get a bike, or even (gasp!) WALK in a crowded urban environment?
You, cubclegirl, are obviously some sort of USA-hating liberal communist pinko.
rethink owning a car?
Let's all rethink owning a car? Sorry, but I do have family that live in the suburbs of NH. There is NO public transportation access to visit my mother, who is getting on in years, whom I would never ask to drive into the city of Boston. I can't ride my bike on 93North! Maybe your family lives close by, but mine does not. A zip car once per week just isn't going to cut it. Furthermore, I do not think that it is acceptable for the city of Boston to tow cars for street cleaning when they don't even bother to clean the street. Next time one of you car haters need a ride to the Ikea, NH State liquor store, etc., please fuck off!
Did you know they sell liquor in Mass.?
My family lives 400 miles away and it is possible to live without a car AND see them. As someone who lived 7 years without a car, allow me to introduce you to the wonderful world of mass transit. Where we have things like Greyhound and Amtrak and the MBTA. All perfectly legal, rarely get towed, cheaper than maintaining a car -- and plus you do your bit to lessen our nation's dependence on Middle Eastern oil! That's right! Riding the bus is patriotic!
And btw...what the hell are you doing driving to NH for liquor? They sell that here now too you know.
Re: Did you know they sell...
cubiclegirl,
What part of, 'my family lives in a part of suburban NH not accessible by public transportation' don't you comprehend???? MBTA doesn't not exist in the state of NH. Are you that dim??? You are truly ignorant.
Okay, you're wrong
Okay, you're wrong here.
Have your family meet you at the nearest transit stop and quit being a bully to the more responsible citizens on this thread
or
If you can't cut the apron strings, please move back to NH.
No, you're wrong.
My mother is elderly. I'm not going to ask her to meet me somewhere! I am a responsible citizen which is why I spent more money to buy a fuel efficient vehicle. Sorry you suck and don't help out your family. Maybe you should crawl back into your hole and feel sorry for yourself some more.
NH-hole
You can tell this guy has such road rage behind the wheel. Not a Masshole though...NHole?
Dude, its tough. Just park your car in an appropriate spot. Its not the tow truck's fault you didn't get the job.
When I lived in a street sweeping neighborhood but needed my car for my weekend job, I would find a spot Monday night that was safe from tickets/towing and then on the weekend when I needed my car I'd go pick it up.
With owning a car comes responsibility. The parking restrictions and signs existed before your car existed. Take a zen moment, *walk* around your neighborhood, get a feel for where to park and do it.
I'm with you there. There
I'm with you there. There is, in fact, public transportation that is not the MBTA. People can ride buses, take trains, or fly to just about anywhere. Airports and train and bus stations have ways to get from them into the surrounding towns. You can visit just about anywhere in the world without owning a car.
Is google ignorant too?
Because when I asked my good friend Google the question, "Is there a bus to New Hampshire" it came up with this first thing http://www.concordtrailways.com/new_hampshire_bus_schedule.htm. Look! Public transit to New Hampshire!
Amazing.
Yes, there is public transit to *some* of New Hampshire
and let me emphasize some. You want to get to Manchester or Concord or Portsmouth or North Conway, it's pretty easy. But try going from Boston to Derry or Hampton Beach some time.