The Faux Shaux

Summary:

Tired of parking tickets? Dreading that half hour drive around the neighborhood for a spot only good ’til morning?
Let me introduce BKPK.  Free parking in Brooklyn.  I am proposing a parking-space swapping community.

How will this work?
There are a few systems we plan to enact.

1. Public Message Board – Users opt in to receive updates via Twitter or SMS for parking spaces in their zip code.

2. Karma System – This is an iteration of the message board with a points system. Points awarded if user posts free space [1 pt] or when he takes a posted space [2 pt]. When another user takes a space that someone has posted, the original user gains more credits [4 pt].

3. Free Space Map App – I’m very excited about this feature. This would map out all of the possible spaces in the neighborhood based on the local “No Parking” regulations. The user will be able to select whether he wants to view – order of newly expired no parking zones OR future expired no parking zones (ie – in 30 minutes). Another function will color code the spaces for how long they last (ie – this spot is good for 3 more days).

Background:

I’ve recently brought my car to Brooklyn, so as to give my folks room in their garage and because I’m too attached to the thing to sell it. Having lived in Brooklyn Heights for a couple years, I’ve had a few run-ins with the parking authorities. Let’s me put this in perspective. Hazards on, carrying equipment up to a third floor walk up – ticket. Moving a three piece couch into our apartment – ticket. Five minutes late to a street cleaning sign – ticket.

Granted, some of my friends do average a ticket per month in lower profile neighborhoods, but I assume that they forget to move the car once in a while (they don’t have the parking FEAR that exists in my area).

So why does our local parking community have such (a justified) fear of tickets?

Brooklyn Heights and surrounding area has an unnaturally high demand for parking spaces. This is for many reasons. There is a higher population density, as the buildings are taller as well as it being one subway stop from Manhattan (specifically the Financial District). The income level is also very high compared to surround neighborhoods, meaning more can afford the luxury of owning car despite the availability of mass transit.

Downtown Brooklyn is the site of many government buildings, court houses and prisons. This is probably why most of the side streets are metered north of my street. I estimate 30 percent of the eligible parking in my neighborhood is metered (usually one hour).

Back to the court houses. There is a noticeably high percentage of cars with parking permits displayed on the dashboard. I get the feeling that the local officials apply for permits for each of their vehicles which results in family and friends using the other cars and permits. Even if the proper driver is using the permit, is it fair if he is doing so when he is not working?