Letter: Park With Courtesy in Jamaica Plain

One JP resident is asking that drivers park their cars with others in mind.

The following is a letter to the editor submitted by Jamaica Plain resident Karen E. Logue: I am writing to remind residents of JP to be considerate neighbors.  For the most part, people here tend to neighborly and community oriented.  There are some exceptions that I would like to address.  Street Parking:  Today someone pulled into the space behind me and parked their car up against my rear bumper. They are 2 feet from the curb and have 8 free feet behind them.  There are several open spots available 2 cars in front of me but they chose to block me in so that I can’t leave. After the blizzard, neighbors worked hard to dig their cars out.  I have seen several people remove space savers and take people’s spots.  This is when we were still …

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Is it OK to Save a Parking Space in JP?

Legally, there's no basis for parking spot saving, but: is this a neighborhood rule where you live? Do you abide by the "he who dug it" code?

Is It Cool to Save a Parking Spot in JP?

Chairs and other objects always pop up in shoveled-out spots after each snowstorm. Legally, there's no basis for it, but: is this a neighborhood rule where you live? Do you abide by the "he who dug it" code?

  Police have responded to numerous reports this week of neighbors fighting over one of the city's 'hottest' post-blizzard commodities: on-street parking.  While there's no legal basis for the practice, residents will often leave identifying markers in the parking spaces they've spent hours digging out. As the city's emergency lots closed Monday morning, though, some residents seemed to ignore the informal rule.  Readers, we wanted to ask you: is this an unspoken rule in your neighborhood? Have you ever had a parking spot marker ignored? Taken another's space in a fit of desperation?  Share your story and opinion with other readers in our comment section below.  

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O'Malley: New Signage, Enforcement to Lead to Better Traffic Flow

Do you know what a "pig parker" is? If so, don't be one.

District 6 Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley loves the "old world charm" of Boston, but says it's time motorists learned "the new rules of the road." At Wednesday's Council meeting, O'Malley called for a future hearing to consider ways to improve traffic flow in Boston. Mentioning that Boston's original roads were made by following cow paths (not the most ideal for traffic flow), he said it's time to use better signage and enforcement in Boston neighborhoods. O'Malley, who represents JP and West Roxbury, led a hearing last winter to explore traffic calming measures, added he "wants to use every arrow in our quiver" to improve traffic flow. O'Malley raised four specific areas of concern: O'Malley said he's "not wanting to fine people" but…

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City Council Aims to Expand Pay-By-Phone Parking

The council also talked about the gap between the diversity of Boston Public Schools' staff and students. Further, it approved $1 million for public parks during the May 16 regular meeting.

The Boston City Council talked about bringing the latest technology to parking and supported two hearings related to Boston Public Schools: one on efforts to diversity the teacher workforce and the other to discuss recess as an important part of the school day. Councilors also approved $1 million for park maintenance.  Smart Parking Technology Councilor Tito Jackson was with a friend in Washington D.C. They parked their car and began walking away, when he noticed they forgot to feed the meter. "She actually pulled out her iPhone, and paid for the meter with her iPhone," said Jackson, who represents District 7. While the ability to pay for meters using your credit card in Boston in great, the city should also be investing in the latest …

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City Plans to Confiscate Weld Hill Space Saver

After a resident complained via Citizen Connect about a neighbor who uses a cone to try to save parking, the city inspector said if he came by and the cone were there, he'd confiscate it.

Everyone knows you aren't supposed to save on-street spots, except for maybe 48 hours during and after a snow storm. But the prohibition is flouted in JP, including on Weld Hill Street. A resident complained to the city about his neighbors using a traffic cone to save spaces during all kinds of weather. The city, in response, said it visited and the cone wasn't there. But the inspector said the Public Works crews would confiscate the cone if they saw it. Tip of the hat to Universal Hub for pointing out this citizen complaint. Here's more on the "Citizens Connect" app that the resident used to file his or her complaint.

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From the Editor

Ever Wonder If They Really Ticket in the Burroughs Lot?

The busy city parking lot behind Blanchards and Bukhara has a two-hour limit during the day. And they're serious about it.

If you've ever been tempted to park all day at the Burroughs Street lot, think again. The city apparently takes the two-hour daytime limit seriously at the busy lot behind JP's main business district. I earned myself a $25 fine on Friday by going about two hours over the limit. The free, 100-or-so space lot is two hour parking Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.

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Bill

7:10 pm on Monday, October 3, 2011

That lot has been known for that for years, often wondered if the ticket person hid in the bushes nearby with a timer. A cup of Dunkins cost me big money one morning, wasn't gone ten minutes. Reality is a harsh teacher, but a thorough one...   more ›

PHOTO GALLERY: Tagging, Towing, Snowing and Plowing

Scenes from the latest storm to hit JP.

JP photographer Courtney Sacco caputured a variety of images from our most recent storm, including tagging and towing along snow emergency arteries.

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Chris Helms

7:50 am on Thursday, February 3, 2011

Hi Jimmy, yes, of course this is Centre Street, but people also call this section (with the shops) JP Center (with the -er spelling). At least that's how I've always seen it written.   more ›