On Aug 11, 2011, at 7:09 PM, UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN wrote: > Brian Siano wrote: > >>> Pretty much the definition of "silly." > > > here's what sounds silly: the premise and the experiment. > > the premise that west philly is so teeming with people that we need parklets > to provide the public with extra tables and chairs in the street so that they > can enjoy the sun and shade -- AND that west philly is so teeming with people > that we could do with less parking spots for their cars (or cars that were > once so important to provide thru philly car share). > > the experiment that captures parking spaces and converts them into public > places for sitting at tables and chairs -- right next to a big public park.
One thing which I found fascinating …. Unless as part of PhillyCarShare's continuing collapse had already removed them… The parking space(s) removed were a "turning lane" and a PhillyCarShare Pod. This whole "parklet" thing is yet another imported "California Idea." What the importers fail to realize is that California streets are typically 6 to 8 WIDE lanes wide, while Philadelaphia streets, are, like 43rd or Baltimore, only 4 NARROW lanes wide (two traffic lanes and two parking lanes.) Similarly, California does not have a "parking problem" as exists here in Philadelphia -- it has a "too many cars on the road" problem. Of course, the MOST interesting thing is … who bears the liability (i.e. pays the medical bills of) the folks sitting in the parklet when a car slams into it. The whole construction is "portable" meaning that it is flimsy, and while the "first season of installation" is likely to be sound, once it is disassembled in October, and re-assembled next spring, it is likely to be missing parts and not quite correctly assembled. One finds it difficult to believe that anyone in West Philadelphia could possibly find it "responsible thinking" to intentionally remove parking places…. even WITHOUT the suburban student parking issue! William H. Magill Block Captain 4400 Chestnut Street ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
