HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 05-14 Maplewood retains limit on parking THE REVIEW Maplewood retains
limit on parking
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The city's policy of not allowing any city streets all overnight,the staff and
vehicles to park on its roads or streets all council could create a possible liability
night will remain as is after discussion at situation for the police department,the
a recent city council meeting. mayor and the city council members.
Occasionally Maplewood residents say Hagen added the city's building codes
they find the policy inconvenient. require adequate off-street parking space
Mayor John Greavu questioned Tom be provided to handle all vehicles at high
Hagen,Maplewood deputy police chief, density residential areas like apartments
about the city's overnight parking policy and townhouses.
on city streets.In Maplewood,vehicles Children now use the sides of the roads
are prohibited from parking on any street for traveling on their bicycles.This is
or road for more than two hours between dangerous for them to do, but if there
the hours of 2 and 6 a.m. were parked cars on the sides of the
Hagen told Greaw and the other roads,it could become more treacherous,
council members that if a Maplewood he stated.The youngsters would have to
resident has unexpected guests or travel down the center of the streets to
emergencies, the person can receive avoid the parked cars.
special permission to park the extra The council accepted Hagen's rationale
vehicles all night on their street for three for the city policy regulating parking on
evenings. the streets and roads decided not to
He explained a number of reasons why change it.
the city does not allow overnight parking
on its roadways.
The most obvious reason,he said,was
the problems that would be created by
having to plow around parked cars during
snowstorms in the winter.
Another reason,Hagen continued,is a
safety factor for children.Presently the
city experiences very few children being
struck accidentiatly by moving vehicles.
If cars were allowed to park overnight on
the streets,a child might dart out from
behind one of these parked vehicles some
evening and be injured by a passing car.
Other reasons included,the city streets
are not wide enough to allow vehicles to
pass through safetly with cars parked on
both sides, and off street parking
eliminates crime opportunities.
"We are all creatures of habit.If we
have to keep vehicles off the street at
night,we generally also do it during the
day."If overnight parking was allowed,
Hagen predicts the city's streets would
become parking lots.
If an accident were to happen as a
result of cars being allowed to park on the