Submitted by ThoolooExpress t3_10utmla in nyc
Better than nothing, but who’s going to enforce this?
The problem with creating more rules and regulations
You make a good point, but I just want to point out that enforcement issues don't make pushing for better regulations futile.
Having a regulation, even if it isn't enforced, makes it a lot easier to push for change. When demanding action from elected representatives you have to give them something that is specific and actionable, and sometimes you have to go one step at a time.
"Fix placard abuse" is a very vague ask." Devote more resources into enforcing this specific regulation" is a very specific ask. Getting these rule changes on the books is a step in the right direction.
Thank you for saying this. There is a particular brand of internet apathy that insinuates that anything other than a silver bullet isn't worth pursuing, when in fact positive change is most often a long and incremental process.
It's a step for sure. How big of a step remains to be seen.
I can't help but think that a lot of measures like this and the bounty program for cars parked in bike lanes are a band aid on the much larger issue of the NYPD having contempt for the population they are supposed to serve. The cynic in me thinks that they will just flat out ignore this rule and if our elected officials do figure out a way to bring them to heel then cops will figure out another way to lash out.
And how can it be effectively enforced? Are they going to stand there with a stopwatch once a vehicle arrives at one of these spots? How does that scale?
And what if an unscrupulous service just rotates vehicles into these spots, preventing other companies from using a spot? Basically, squatting on the loading zone spots just so you know they are available.
I make these points as someone that lives near the Target and Trader Joe's in Kips bay. Both of these stores effectively block off full length tractor trailer truck spaces in front of their stores. Trader Joes at 31st and 3rd takes up that space AND double parks the truck next to it, taking up 2 lanes immediately before a bunch of bus stops and then the turn onto 34th st to get to the midtown tunnel and FDR Drive on ramps. It's a huge problem and apparently the city doesn't care?
We need a more comprehensive solution. Maybe move all loading zones off the avenues and onto the side streets, expand citi bike docking station footprints, dedicate lanes to busses on the avenues more strictly enforced, build bike lanes on the avenues that are protected by sidwalks from car traffic. I know it can't all be done at once but proposals that are more fully envisioned can actually show that there is a full plan to make the city more hospitable to people, not just cars.
> And how can it be effectively enforced?
My favorite idea is copying the idle vehicle law: take a video, if the vehicle is there for 2 minutes, the owner gets fined, the videotaker gets a cut of the fine.
Set loading/unloading times for loading zones? Scan the registration for cars and pass through every 30 (or whatever) minutes?
That could work but only for an individual vehicle. What’s to stop amazon from just rotating delivery vans trucks and hoarding the spots?
Nothing, but isn’t that the intent? Does it matter if it’s Amazon or usps or FedEx, as long as the turnover is high?
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments