Comments on DDOT being narrow-minded, overcautious on Park(ing) Day - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by dcresident

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:00:45 EDT

It seems like an interesting progressive idea as you say. Although I don't blame the agencies not wanting to support these ideas in our present litigation-loving society. Unfortunately, a permit does not eliminate liabilities from the local agency in case some fatal accident does happen (even if the chances are minimal, like most other policies and regulations in our society it is based on the most unthinkable worse case scenario). I am sure if you legally can come up with some kind of waiver form saying that the organizer are solely liable for anything that could happen within that space, the local agencies might be more encouraged in issuing a permit.

Comment by Erica

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:45:30 EDT

Getting a permit for subversive street theater seems to somewhat defeat the purpose. Just do it, guys. At the worst you'll get a parking ticket. :)

Comment by David Alpert

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:32:55 EDT

Ghost: Justin from ReadySetDC had originally said they were dealing with DCRA. However, we spoke this evening and figured out that while he'd gone to the DCRA permit office, he'd then been working with DDOT officials who were the ones actually making the policy. Therefore, I've corrected the post.

Comment by Ghost of Walter Cronkite

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:12:27 EDT

@David: ReadysetDC's blog notes that it's DDOT that is reviewing the public space permits, not DCRA. Which makes sense since DDOT handles all public space permitting.

Any plans on correcting that "minor" error in your post?

Comment by Justin from ReadysetDC

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:11:32 EDT

Thanks for the post David. You can expect to hear more very soon from us. We will also be working on many more projects like this.

Comment by Justin from ReadysetDC

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:09:43 EDT

"This seems like an incredible amount of energy being expended for the 3 people who will actually go through the trouble of setting up a "parking" in a parking space. Every single person I know, including the most die-hard environmentalists, urbanists, etc, all have much better things to do with their time then set up a park in a parking space on their street."

metronic:

Get these "die-hard environmentalists, urbanists, etc" to convince the majority of people that making cities more sustainable, livable and better for pedestrians + cyclists.

You can tell someone about Park(ing) Day, and they might think the idea sounds stupid, but that opinion is of a few words told to them, not the actual experience.

These "die-hards" are doing great things, but I believe that if you are trying to improve this city, there is no "better thing to do" than to actually give people a taste and a better understanding of what a more sustainable/livable city is like.

Comment by цarьchitect

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:18:00 EDT

Seriously? They couldn't just lobby DC to get parking banned for security reasons?

Comment by Anon

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:11:25 EDT

I believe that the World Bank has purchased all their surrounding parking spaces and paid the meter time for them and specified them as "no Parking"

Comment by ah

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:28:55 EDT

I'm waiting for the rebels to set up a picnic in someone's front yard that happens to be the "public" park(ing) area (e.g., capitol hill with zero frontage)

Comment by Ward 1 Guy

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:02:17 EDT

Ha! I was wondering what a POD was, assuming you were referring to cars like mine ("piece of doody", the polite alternative to POS car). I think I figured it out from context of ah's post, you must mean a storage bin of some kind.

All this planning and permitting sort of undermines the rebel artists' vision of spontaneously turning parking spaces into park spaces, doesn't it? It's like Tea Party re-enactments. Just doesn't have hte same effect as the original.

Comment by ah

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:32:47 EDT

One now needs a permit for a POD (or similar item) on the street.

http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/frames.asp?doc=/ddot/lib/ddot/services/permits/residents_movingcontainers.pdf

Usually PODS don't contain people, which is perhaps a relevant difference.

Comment by Reid

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:11:02 EDT

Why does it have to be a metered space? Don't people put those POD things on the street for weeks at a time? Do they need a permit? Do they need all these ridiculous safety measures?

Comment by lucre

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:56:27 EDT

Even beyond what kidincredible said, seems like depending on how specific the definition of "vehicle" is here, one could just bring a little (maybe folding) bike along and satisfy the requirement.

Comment by w'

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:53:42 EDT

It's a great idea because it makes (offers the opportunity at least) people think differently about the space they see and use everyday. Everything is so car-centric that something just a little different, even for part of 1 little day, is a big deal.

I can't participate, not because I have anything better to do, but because I have prior commitments. I think the idea about this is great and I hope the powers that be try to think outside the windshield just a bit.

Comment by ah

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:43:42 EDT

What exactly makes this a "great" idea?

If I wanted to park my car on the sidewalk, I'd expect to have to set up cones at either end as well, along with a buffer.

Comment by metronic

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:09:15 EDT

This seems like an incredible amount of energy being expended for the 3 people who will actually go through the trouble of setting up a "parking" in a parking space. Every single person I know, including the most die-hard environmentalists, urbanists, etc, all have much better things to do with their time then set up a park in a parking space on their street.

Comment by Fritz

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:04:55 EDT

Isn't it DDOT that deals with public space laws and requirements?

Comment by kidincredible

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:02:39 EDT

Just find two people who own Smart ForTwo's or other short cars. Park the first at the very front of the first spot and the second and the very back of the second spot creating a gap in between to set up the park.

Comment by Michael Perkins

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:01:57 EDT

I think that first proposal is symbolic of our fair city today. Jersey barriers and planters everywhere.