New York reinstates full alternative parking rule

This week, residents of those neighborhoods in New York where the streets are cleaned twice a week will again have to move their vehicles twice a week. This will end the Alternate Side Parking Rule restriction policy introduced during the pandemic to avoid people needlessly going outside during the lockdown. Gothamist.

The old (pre-pandemic) Alternate Side parking rules came into effect again on July 5th. For Erin Reiner of Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, the return of Alternative Parking (ASP) means a return to a much-loved weekly ritual.

“I think it's a bummer. Everyone is used to only moving their car once a week,” said Reiner, 34. “Obviously we all want the streets to be clean. But it would be great if they could come up with another way to keep the streets clean. Not forcing us to re-park cars twice a week.”

New York is dirty and people don't like it.

By restoring alternative parking, Mayor Eric Adams is trying to address residents' frequent complaints about litter and dirty streets, as well as an increase in the rat population. Reopening the program also fully restores a reliable source of income for the city. The city's annual parking ticket revenue in fiscal 2016 was $515 million. Ignoring ASP rules can cost the car owner $65.

Alternate parking twice a week was canceled at the end of June 2020. At the time, Mayor Bill de Blasio, who introduced the policy, suggested that it could be a permanent change.

But Adams says the return of the old model serves as a way to address the growing trash problem.

The city will also spend $11 million on additional street cleaning equipment. Including cars that can clear guarded bike paths.

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The city's Department of Sanitation said the return of alternate side parking rules would also improve the efficiency of its employees.

“Most New Yorkers agree that the city has become less clean since the pandemic. And part of that is due to the partial suspension of the alternate parking rule. Not only did this cut street sweeping in half. But in many cases, it prevented us from cleaning the streets even once a week,” Vincent Gragnani, a spokesman for the Department of Sanitation, wrote in a statement. According to him, one janitor can collect 680 kilograms of garbage per shift.

East Flatbush resident Sabina Osias welcomes the return of the rule and believes it is necessary.

“If we could keep the area clean, I would support the idea of ​​a one-day alternative parking. But, unfortunately, during the pandemic, New York became very dirty, Osias said. “I can understand the need to return those two days. Otherwise, unfortunately, we will walk in the mud.”

But there could be other implications as people move their cars more frequently each week. More driving around looking for space often results in blocking streets and honking cars.

“My apartment faces the street. And it's been nice that it's been quieter here since COVID started,” said Jed Dougherty, 35, who lives in Prospect Heights. He does not have a car, and he waits in horror for the evil drivers to honk under his windows again.

“Whenever they did alternate parking in the mornings on school days, it was crazy,” he said.