"Parking Chairs"

[erechoveraker]

I should add, in my experience this isn't a thing that only happens in winter. I could almost see the logic to that - you dig the spot, it's yours. My 45 year old neighbor in Pittsburgh kept  chairs in front of his house all the time, year round. Eff that. Curbside parking is first come, first serve.

[erika]

I can see both sides of the argument.  I probably would never do it myself, but I would also probably not park in a spot that was "saved" unless it was the last one available.

That's kind of how I feel. I've never actually done it but after shoveling snow for over two hours on Sunday, I would have been pretty pissed if someone had stolen my spot. Especially if it were one of the SUV's who, instead of digging out around their car, just gunned it out of the parking space, leaving what are now big ice boulders along the shoulder of the road and in the parking lane.

That said, I really need me some all-wheel-drive.

[thom]

The two most valid points are:
- It's a lot of work to shovel snow just to park one's car so the spot is deserved.
- It's a really unfriendly thing to claim a parking spot and it presents a "locals only" sort of vibe.

I have to agree with the anti-reservationists. A useful tool to determine if something is dumb is to extrapolate it to the extreme:
If everyone reserved their parking spot with lawnjunk, what then? It would likely be considered illegal, or at least arouse suspicion from the coppers. Some sort of ordinance or permit would be instituted or required.

If you want full control of a parking spot, it must contain a car. If you want to reserve a spot that you dug out even when your car isn't in it, park your second car in the spot until your first car returns.

Short answer: It's public property. Get that chair the fuck off the road.

[Sarah]

I wonder if there would be a market for very realistic inflatable cars that could be used instead of chairs.  I suppose anchoring them into place might be tricky. 

[bmills]

I'm pro-chair with the caveat that i am from Pittsburgh and it's kinda in my blood to respect the chair. That said, i have never used one myself for reasons above and have had trouble wrapping my head around the concept my whole life. As for a non winter chair, i feel like those are kind of rare but would have no problem kicking one out of the way if need be.

[Trotskie]

If you want full control of a parking spot, it must contain a car. If you want to reserve a spot that you dug out even when your car isn't in it, park your second car in the spot until your first car returns.

Short answer: It's public property. Get that chair the fuck off the road.

This presupposes that there is a shortage of parking spots.  If that is the case then, I'd agree. 

But if there are other spots available (though they might not be dug out) I think that there is a validity to chairing the spot.  In this "abundant parking" situation you are not claiming the public property but the time invested in clearing it.

[erika]

I wonder if there would be a market for very realistic inflatable cars that could be used instead of chairs.  I suppose anchoring them into place might be tricky. 

WE NEED HOLOGRAMS!

[fonpr]

you bust your ass digging out a spot, it's your fucking spot. that's all there is to it.  who's the asshole? the person who just wants to coast in on your back-breaking labor, that's who.

basically, it depends on where you live, though, as far as how much you can expect people to respect that. people in chicago do it correctly.  everyone knows what's expected and those who deviate from that are the assholes.

I was going to agree with you, Hugger.

Then I noticed you edited your post and still didn't capitalize the beginning of your sentences?  Sarah and I are both appalled! We respect basic gammer  as you said yourself (and I quote):

those who deviate from that are the assholes.

[Sarah]

I may respect basic gammer, F., but affectations annoy more than appall me.

[fonpr]

I may respect basic gammer, F., but affectations annoy more than appall me.

Sorry Sarah.  I need to loosen up.  Annoy is fine.

[Sarah]

An apology?  No need!

[Joe Rogaine]

What kind of chair? Wouldn't people just run over the chair?

[yesno]

I like to set up a whole little living room.  Couch, coffee table, lamp.

I read about some mayor in Maryland who asked everyone to move their cars so the roads could be plowed.  Where would he like them to be moved to?  I found that very funny. 

[betheboy]

I am pro Erika, she is top notch, but this chair thing is new to me and I lived in the Northeast for 24 years. When a spot is vacated it is up for grabs. That said I would never insult a friend for trying to save a spot for themselves, that is way out of line.

[Bryan]

I like to set up a whole little living room.  Couch, coffee table, lamp.

I read about some mayor in Maryland who asked everyone to move their cars so the roads could be plowed.  Where would he like them to be moved to?  I found that very funny. 

This happens in Montreal! It's kind of an amazing process. After a major dump, they do regular plowing. But if they just left the accumulation at the sides of the street, after a few weeks there would be huge snow mountains eliminating all the parking and a good deal of the lanes.

So the city puts up signs a day ahead of time on the streets they'll be clearing snow from, and anyone who doesn't move their cars gets towed. They pick up the snow - suck it up, and shoot it into huge trucks - then return the towed cars(!), complete with parking tickets on the windshield.

There's got to be an insanely huge snow dump somewhere on the outskirts of Mtl.