Plan for Park(ing) Day 2008

You know why so many people have a negative view of environmentalists and environmentalism?

Because of idiotic stuff like this that basically amounts to screwing with the average person who's just trying to get through their day with as little hassle as possible.

I can't possibly think of a better way to close someone's mind to green thinking than to pull these sorts of stunts.

Also, everyone already knows that September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

I have to agree with you, mediageek.

I don't understand how this would be effective at all. It actually reminds me of PETA in a way-- They are SO extreme just for the effect that they miss the point altogether.

I would be pissed if this happened to me. especially here in chicago.

I feel like there are more important things to be focusing on than taking up parking spaces.

I don't know how I feel about things like this. Yes, it is designed specifically to hack off an average person, and if that is the only reaction than the whole thing failed. But if you are able to do it in such a way that causes a person to think for just a moment about their way of life, than I think it is worth it. You open a door to new ideas.

Not only do shenanigans like this p*ss off the average citizen, it is counterproductive, since it causes more cars to drive around in circles trying to find places to park. I wish these trustfund hippie college students would find a more productive way to spend their idle time and money.

Wow...folks are a bit defensive about their "right" to use (or rent) PUBLIC SPACE for their hunks of metal!

Using (or renting) the space to make a public park seems just as valid (I would argue MORE valid) an action.

I'm with Garth. This is perfectly valid, and all the people who read negative connotations into this only prove how badly we need this.

What is wrong with you people? Do you get mad when they make an actual permanent park, because it is real estate that could have gone towards parking spots? This is not meant to ""screw the average person", did you actually read the guidelines on their website? It's only designed to provoke thought, to introduce the idea that maybe cars should not rule the world.

Wow, sounds like you guys really need a day off!

To clarify in an effort to soothe the concerns of Ed, Dallas, Marjie and Mediageek: Park[ing] Day isn't meant to 'hack off', offend or deny people the opportunity to park their car no more so than if my own car was parked in that space. Instead, it is an attempt to celebrate and enhance the pedestrian experience by adding content and livability to a streetscape, which way too often (especially in Los Angeles) validates the driver's experience at the sake of the pedestrian or cyclist. There is a delicate balance between our dependence on the automobile and the quality of life our urban environment affords. Park[ing] Day attempts to restore that balance in a healthy, vibrant and engaging manner. Each park[ing] space becomes a forum, an opportunity to interact with the immediate community. We are not thumbing our nose with disdain, shouting 'park elsewhere, buddy!' - no instead, we are enjoying a moment together in a 180 square feet pocket of public space and reprogramming that space (where otherwise we would park our car) with a purpose that is more civil, open and inspiring. We're not activists. We are probably not even environmentalists. We are simply urban-minded individuals that chose to leave our car home for the day; we are your neighbors that have transformed our typical day-time parking places into a community sustaining park[ing] spaces for the day.

Park[ing] Day LA is Friday, September 19th. Enjoy the scenery.