Taking Back the Streets: Parking Meter Parties

This sounds like a real A-hole move, and an easy way to get hurt by pissing some one off. Why go so far out of your way to take up parking spots in a place that already has limited parking.

This is great! It would be best to take every parking spot in a whole street (or more) and have a street long 'party' area on both sides of the road all day long. (Then finally, backward jurisdictions like NYC might stop being such anti-bike fascists).

I agree, what a dick move

James, the idea IS to prevent someone from parking.

However, I question the legality of playing in the street. In Edmonton, you must walk on the sidewalk if there is one present. You may only walk on the street to cross or enter/load a vehicle.

MY PLAN FOR AMERICA (THAT INCLUDES YOU CANADA): A COUCH AND A TV FOR EVERY PARKING SPACE!

Better yet, how about making these parking spaces pay for themselves... instead of being publicly subsidized by hard working tax paying pedestrians and bicyclists!

Also, I say, lets begin oil exploration in all the millions of acres of land used for auto parking! Drill, baby, drill! Hey, at least if you can't find crude you might be able to recapture some of the waste motor oil waiting to enter the water table!

-Patrick-

It is a dick move only in that it was done (by the photographic evidence anyway) by only a few people. However, if/when several more people do it, then it suddenly transforms from some sort of penile-reference to a "popular movement."

Organizations rent out parking lots for the purpose of holding events in them. Other organizations (business groups, non-profits, athletic sponsors, etc) petition their city to close down streets to have parades, street fairs, street races. Neighborhoods close down streets for block parties. These are all "dick moves" that have moved to a point of being a "popular movement." This gives them legitimacy.

I ask the anonymous commenter (and James J who's sentiment he seems to support) if he (I'm assuming here) would say that it's a "dick move" if an entire block (or even a section of a city) was shut down for protests; a civic pride event; a political rally; a sporting event; a street fair; etc. What's the transition point between "dick move" (or James J's "A-hole move") and "popular movement"?

I must comment on this...

As far as the bikes as vehicles comment.. They are and that is how the law sees them. And I believe they need to obey the traffic laws. But on things like intersections and stop signs. The one way street ticket seems extreme tho.

As far as the parking spots... I think it's a great idea to do what they did.. as long as they feed the meter. I think as far as the city is concerned.. the space is rented.. regardless of what is in the spot.

if you don't get it
and what the point is
i don't get how you can't get it..
it's a small protest that might just be legal.
what, are you car drivers or something?

MY PLAN FOR AMERICA (THAT INCLUDES YOU CANADA): A COUCH AND A TV FOR EVERY PARKING SPACE!

Better yet, how about making these parking spaces pay for themselves... instead of being publicly subsidized by hard working tax paying pedestrians and bicyclists!

Also, I say, lets begin oil exploration in all the millions of acres of land used for auto parking! Drill, baby, drill! Hey, at least if you can't find crude you might be able to recapture some of the waste oil waiting to enter the water table!

-Patrick-

It's a dick AND douchebag move. I don't see the point in this ridiculous stunt if it means that motorists are unnecessarily forced to circle around trying to find parking, thereby burning more fuel. And what about all of the fuel used to transport those ridiculous props to the parking spaces? It seems like a bunch of a-hole hipster trustifarians who don't have to work and feel the need to garner the attention that their hard-working parents were unable to provide when they were kids.

I don't understand what is treehugger about limiting available parking. It's not easy to change urban planning. You have to win popular opinion. Some poor bastard had to drive around looking for an available space, wasting gas, polluting the neighborhood because some self-centered hipsters wanted to pull off a stunt that no one else appreciates. Pretty typical though for the arrogant cycling community, IMO.

this just tells me it should be legal for me to park my SUV on the bike rack...

"Organizations rent out parking lots for the purpose of holding events in them. Other organizations (business groups, non-profits, athletic sponsors, etc) petition their city to close down streets to have parades, street fairs, street races. Neighborhoods close down streets for block parties. These are all "dick moves" that have moved to a point of being a "popular movement." This gives them legitimacy.
I ask the anonymous commenter (and James J who's sentiment he seems to support) if he (I'm assuming here) would say that it's a "dick move" if an entire block (or even a section of a city) was shut down for protests; a civic pride event; a political rally; a sporting event; a street fair; etc. What's the transition point between "dick move" (or James J's "A-hole move") and "popular movement"?"

Hitler led the Nazis to a "popular movement" called the Holocaust...

This is not about limiting parking or trying to honk of drivers (BTW, where to you live that there are exactly as many spaces need for all the cars and if one is consumed by something other then a car some poor soul must drive around in circles all day?) but trying to revitalize urban space. downtowns that are treated like shopping centers (park, buy, leave) tend to degrade and become less attractive, but main streets that encourage to hang out and enjoy the space thrive.
So self centered to want to live in a community.

While it's certainly a cute little stunt, they're probably not helping their cause by doing this. As far as I can see, all they're doing is irritating drivers and creating a hazardous situation. The environmental movement needs to realize that "in-your-face" activism doesn't win many friends among the mainstream.