ASP

My days of dealing with Alternate Side Parking are over. (I will blog on my new car as soon as I can) I am not really sure how I felt about the experience but I think there are certain elements of it I will miss. Why you may ask would anyone miss alternate side parking? Well, I used to take advantage of the greatest parking scheme in NYC. To the best of my knowledge, there is only one street below 96th street that has alternate side parking for only 30 minutes. (there used to be two but the neighbors complained about one of them and got it changed to the ubiquitous and ridiculous 90 minute time span) This is one of New York's great secrets. So great is the secret that I am shocked it hasn't been picked up as a human interest story in the NYT or WSJ or on any of the big NY blogs. Parking on this block has its own rules and a subculture has developed with its own social norms and with a camaraderie that one rarely finds among strangers in NYC (this camaraderie is occasionally spoiled by newcomers and people who don't respect the rules or who just don't know how to drive). When properly excetuted, the "move" is nothing short of artistic beauty. The game begins at 8 on Mondays and Thursdays and at 8:30 on Tuesdays and Fridays. The process begins with a traffic officer walking down the block ticketing people who are not in their cars. Sometimes she doesn't come but if she does, she will be there at exactly the start time. She is a nice woman who doesn't take her job too seriously (Legally, you are not allowed to wait by the side of the street. You must leave your spot and leave the street open for cleaning) but if you aren't playing by the rules or threaten the efficient performance of the street sweeper's job she turns into one tough woman! Then the waiting begins... Some wait outside their car and chat but I usually stayed in my car and listened to the radio. Usually, the sweeper makes it in time but if he doesn't, the game ends. At excatly 9AM (or 830) the game is over and if the street sweeper gets there even one minute late he is out of luck. If however, the sweeper gets to the beginning of the street by 9AM then the entire street must move regardless of how long it takes for the sweeper to get to the end of the street. If the sweeper gets there in time, the fun begins. Much like "the wave" in a baseball game (which for some reason doesn't happen as often as it used to) the line of cars moves from one side of the street to the other. This leaves just enough room for the sweeper to pass. Then, the cars reverse back into their original position provided there are no other cars passing behind the sweeper. After the sweeper is all done, the adjustment begins. Because it is a community, the drivers feel the need to help out others on the street and park their cars as close as possible to the other cars to create as many spots as possible. I realize that for those who have never experienced ASP this post might seem boring and technical but for those who have experienced it, maybe you can help me figure out why I think I will miss it. Like yesterday, I would write more but class is ending. Ill clean up this post tomorrow.