In efforts to make city roads more safe and accessible, city councilors have adopted alternate-side parking for the entire year.
The ordinance is in effect for only one year so that councilors can revisit the regulation and address concerns before making it a permanent law.
But during the busy summer, this may present a problem for locals and tourists alike. I live near a busy park where it is difficult to find parking when both sides of the street are available.
Without the convenience of off-street parking, I often find myself parked two blocks from my home. The ordinance makes entertaining difficult too, as it is hard to invite friends over for a pool party or summer barbecue when parking is scarce.
It's also difficult to abide by a 6 p.m. curfew. Work and social occasions can cause a car to be left on the wrong side of the road just long enough to get a ticket or to be towed.
It's also irritating to think that if I want to go away for a weekend, I now need to leave my keys with a friend to move my car back and forth every night. It doesn't make sense.
According to the last U.S. census, the home ownership rate was only a little more than 50 percent. With a struggling economy, many homes in Auburn are sublet; limiting off-street parking.
It seems unfair to almost exclusively inconvenience lower income residents, especially during the meager 90 days of sunshine that Central New Yorkers are afforded.
When the sun is shining people should be outside, not cooped up in front of the boob tube, at the risk of sacrificing choice parking.
My suggestion would be to increase the number of months included in the edict.
As a compromise, suppose alternate-side parking would take effect from mid September through mid June, to coincide with the school year.
This would create extra parking for tourists and residents, out and about enjoying the summer.
It would conversely, make roads more trafficable for the majority of the year.
The less desirable alternative would be to designate year round parking on one side of the street.
But with all of the anticipated roadwork still on the horizon, I vote for summer leniency.
Estabrook's column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com
But during the busy summer, this may present a problem for locals and tourists alike. I live near a busy park where it is difficult to find parking when both sides of the street are available.
Without the convenience of off-street parking, I often find myself parked two blocks from my home. The ordinance makes entertaining difficult too, as it is hard to invite friends over for a pool party or summer barbecue when parking is scarce.
It's also difficult to abide by a 6 p.m. curfew. Work and social occasions can cause a car to be left on the wrong side of the road just long enough to get a ticket or to be towed.
It's also irritating to think that if I want to go away for a weekend, I now need to leave my keys with a friend to move my car back and forth every night. It doesn't make sense.
According to the last U.S. census, the home ownership rate was only a little more than 50 percent. With a struggling economy, many homes in Auburn are sublet; limiting off-street parking.
It seems unfair to almost exclusively inconvenience lower income residents, especially during the meager 90 days of sunshine that Central New Yorkers are afforded.
When the sun is shining people should be outside, not cooped up in front of the boob tube, at the risk of sacrificing choice parking.
My suggestion would be to increase the number of months included in the edict.
As a compromise, suppose alternate-side parking would take effect from mid September through mid June, to coincide with the school year.
This would create extra parking for tourists and residents, out and about enjoying the summer.
It would conversely, make roads more trafficable for the majority of the year.
The less desirable alternative would be to designate year round parking on one side of the street.
But with all of the anticipated roadwork still on the horizon, I vote for summer leniency.
Estabrook's column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com
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excnyer wrote on May 31, 2008 12:24 PM:
horseradish wrote on May 29, 2008 11:22 AM:
horseradish wrote on May 29, 2008 11:20 AM:
It is a good thing you live in this century, What would you have done if you had to walk EVERYWHERE?
You should try living in an actual big city, where you might not be able to park AT ALL!
The city of auburn actually has quite a bit of downtown parking, its not something everyone should be complaining about. "
brew1234 wrote on May 29, 2008 12:31 AM:
Unknown... wrote on May 28, 2008 8:14 PM:
mb wrote on May 28, 2008 3:41 PM:
blueyankee443 wrote on May 28, 2008 5:48 AM:
Try winning a Lottery and moving. "
blueyankee443 wrote on May 28, 2008 5:46 AM:
king problems,not only in Auburn,but man
y cities,large and small through-out the
U.S..This is a Money Maker,so why should
any-one decide what to do best for the
Tax-Payer.(let alone the Disabled)Never
do you read,of how this will affect the
disabled,who is also a home-owner,or has
to live with one.or just to rent.(whoeve
r said,these "Hot-Spots" have to be fair
in doing somthing for Humanity,except to
exploit them for no particular reason
other than for Obsessive Profit Gains.)
These people whom make the laws,have a
house and Off-Street parking,and live in
the subburbs.They do not have the hassel
the oridinary citizen has.(let them who
makes the laws,live with the laws they
choose for others to live within.Its a
terrible thought,but to think that these
persons,do not have to worry about stree
t parking,or offer alternatives so othe
rs can park closer to theirs. Who would
ever think of these things."Let the Disa
bled suffer,and the tax-payer) Good Idea
!!!! "
aub_13021 wrote on May 26, 2008 12:46 AM: