By Sam Schwartz
Dear Transit Sam,
On Second Ave. between 9th and 11th Sts. in the East Village, I always notice yellow cabs parked on both sides of the street from noon to 3 p.m. on weekdays. These spots have metered parking. Is it legal for a company to park their fleet like that continuously? It makes it difficult to run errands or shop in the area. Even the side streets have cabs parked between First and Second Aves. Please let me know your thoughts, and thanks.
David, Battery Park City
Dear David,
Thank you for your letter. The East Village is a Mecca for Middle Eastern restaurants. That may explain the gravitation of yellow cabs from noon to 3 p.m. Without Middle Eastern drivers, thousands of cabs might sit idle. I can’t see a fleet operator parking cabs between noon and 3 p.m.; he wants them out on the road. I suspect it’s just individual drivers who know of cabbie friendly restaurants in the area. Cab drivers are permitted to park at meters upon activation for the time listed on the signs. In this area, after checking the regulations, it’s usually one hour. Drivers are unlikely to stay more than an hour since they too want to get on the road and pick up fares. I did ask the Taxi and Limousine Commission for their interpretation of the mass East Village taxi gravitational pull and to ensure that drivers are complying with city rules on parking.
Transit Sam
Dear Transit Sam,
I received a ticket for no parking for violating alternate side parking rules (A.S.P.). I was told by a sanitation worker that it was O.K. to park after the street had been cleaned. I observed the sweeper cleaning my area and then parked my car. I came back later to find a sticker on my window stating the street could not be cleaned. I hope the sanitation worker wasn’t trying to add to the city’s coffers. What’s the rule of thumb here? Can I park my vehicle once the street has been cleaned?
Bill, Chinatown
Dear Bill,
I believe the sanitation worker you spoke with had good intentions. However, the wording he should have used was that HE would not issue a summons. Many sanitation officers will allow parking once the street has been cleaned. However, unless you’re given the green light to park by an officer or traffic agent, you must obey the signs. Most parkers I observe will usually wait in their cars till after A.S.P. expires. Better to play it safe!
Transit Sam
Sam Schwartz, a former first deputy commissioner of city transportation, is president and C.E.O. of Sam Schwartz Engineering, a traffic engineering consulting firm to private and public entities including the Port Authority at the World Trade Center site. Email your questions to TransitSam@DowntownExpress.com.
