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Should Back Bay Residents Get to 'Hold' Their Parking Spots?

Parking is already difficult in the Back Bay, even without 2 feet of snow on the ground.

 

In the wake of the Blizzard of 2013, parking has become unbelievably difficult between the city's parking ban, the shrinking of streets to one-lane roads, and the 10-or-more-foot high and five-foot deep piles of snow that line the streets.

Bostonians all know of the tradition in the city that when you shovel out a parking spot, you can "hold" that parking spot with a chair, trash barrel or other object for up to 48 hours after the parking ban ends. 

Proponents say that the ban encourages people to do a good job clearing out their spot, knowing their hard work won't go to waste as soon as they move their car.

Opponents say that you can't claim a parking spot as "yours" just because you parked there before the blizzard. 

What's your personal policy? Is there anywhere to park, between Boston's parking ban, the huge snow piles in the neighborhood, and the spot savers? Is it your right to a parking spot after you put in the sweat and manpower necessary to clear it out? Should the city do anything to discourage this behavior?

Let us know in the comments below.

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Related Topics: Blizzard of 2013 and Parking

Karen Kast

3:47 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Im not in Back Bay, but on my street in Rozzie, one way, parking only on one side and a school at the top also, even prior to the snow issue I feel since I have no other parking option I should be able to save my spot! So with the labor it took to clean out the spot, and the public street all around it, yes I believe it is my right to hold my spot! I guarantee if I get home tomorrow and anyone moved my place-holder I will be upset.

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