Boston Mayor's Space-Saving Ban Seeks to End War Over Shoveled Parking Spots

By Jillian MacMath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

March 3,2015; 8:33PM,EST

 

 

With more than 8 feet of snow accumulating across Boston since January, clogged city streets have made available parking spaces a hot commodity.
As of Monday, March 2, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has banned the use of space savers in vacant spots, asking residents to be respectful of their neighbors who have spent time digging out the city's snow-congested streets.
However, a drive down any of Boston's roadways reveals piles as high as 8 to 10 feet in many locations. At times, only the tips of windshield wipers could be seen poking out through the fresh powder.
In this Feb. 23, 2015 photo, a car remains buried in snow along a residential street in South Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Those that have spent the time and energy shoveling a clean spot deserve to park in it, locals have argued.
Walsh's decision was a controversial one, stirring mixed emotions in the community and across social networks.
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It follows numerous confrontations between locals who have staked possession of the spots they shoveled and non-shoveling residents who have swiped the spots without asking.
In late January, Massachusetts local Jose Osorio was arrested after witnesses say he fired shots at cars parked in spots he had shoveled, according to ABC news.
In this Feb. 23, 2015 photo, a chair with a threatening note saves a parking space on a residential street in South Boston. Officials typically turn a blind eye to the lawn chairs, orange cones and assorted bric-a-brac Bostonians use to reserve a parking space after clearing it of snow. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
On Craigslist, one Bostonian bragged about his ultimate retaliation: putting the shoveled snow back in the spot, surrounding and burying the car that pilfered his space.
"I was nice enough to leave the passenger door accessible in case they needed to get in for an emergency," the anonymous Bostonian wrote.
As the war wages on between locals, Walsh asks that residents respect one another and be fair.
  Mayor Marty Walsh        ✔ @marty_walsh Follow

Space saver removal will begin Monday. Be respectful of your neighbors & their property during this process. http://ow.ly/JEPD1  #BOSnow

6:29 PM - 25 Feb 2015

"The city of Boston has seen an unprecedented amount of snow in the past month, impacting many aspects of our daily lives, including making parking difficult," Walsh acknowledged in a press release.
"If you spend hours digging out your parking space, you should have access to that space for a reasonable time period," he said.
In this Feb. 23, 2015 photo, a fashion doll in a milk crate saves a parking space on a residential street in South Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
According to the official website for the city of Boston, space savers are meant to be used on a short-term basis only, with 48 hours as the "guideline" length.
"I'm asking residents to remain respectful of their neighbors and their property as the process of space saver removal begins, and as we continue to clean up from nearly 8 feet of snow in less than 30 days."
Public Works crews will begin removing space savers during regularly scheduled neighborhood trash collection.