Evening star., 1915-02-18
RESTRICTED ZONES
WILL BE CONTINUED
Attitude of Commissioners Revealed
by Brownlow at Hearing-Trafic
Conditions Deemed Better.

the business portions of the City, and
in addition probably will establish a
center parking zone on F street be-
tween 14th and 18th streets and on
other downtown thoroughfares was the
announcement of Commissioner Brown
low at hearing today at which revision
O The tariff regulations was discussed.
The hearing was called at the re-
quest of the Retail Merchants Assoct-
alton and other organizations. who Pc
ttioned the Commissioners to increase
the time in which vehicles are permit
ted to remain in the restricted parking
zones that already have been estab-
lished That there is considerable sem
timent in favor of the entire abolition
of barking zones was developed at the
meeting.
I: Present Areas to Stand.
Commissioner Browniow, who con-
dueted the hearing individually. the
other members of the board of Com
missioners not being present, frankly
tod the fifty or more business men,
automobilists and others present that
the District heads have no intention of
doing away with the areas in which
vehicles are now permitted to park
for. fifteen minutes. On the contrary,
it is the intention of the Commission
erx he said. to lay out more zones and
experiment with the feasibility or
maintaining center parking spaces on
PENNSYLVANIA and New York avenues.
While the Commissioner did not go
into the details of the plan under con-
sideration, it is understood to be the
intention to establish restricted areas
on these thoroughfares between 11th
and 18th streets. The plan contemplates
reserving two-thirds of the length of
eadh block for parking purposes. and IT
is pointed out that the arrangement
$aot 1ada
waiting for street cars, as they will be
shielded by the line of vehicles parked
parallel to the tracks.
Suggestions Are Desired.
The commissioner said he would rec
ommend reserving the center OF F
street between 18th and 18th streets
for parking purposes. and suggested
that the board would be glad to con-
slider suggestions from citizens as to
what other portions of streets should
be similarly reserved
Most of the hearing was taken up
with a discussion of whether the pres
emit limit of fifteen minutes for the
parking of vehicles in restricted areas
should be increased Representatives
of the Retail Merchants Association
advocated increasing the limit to one
considered the fifteen-minute limit suf-
icient-
Those who thought the restricted
zones should be abolished altogether
took the position that the needs Of
traffic would be adequately served if
vehicles were allowed to stop in front
of business houses only long enough
to discharge or take on passengers. after
which they might park in any available
space.
Traffic Expert Heard.
uy,,:a,, ID r,o racoon;,ad no fraf
hc expert both in this country and
abroad, was among those who attended
the hearing He pointed out that there
is much available space that can be
designated for parking purposes and
suggested that it is better that owners
Or drivers of cars should walk 100 or
even 500 feet from the zones to their
places of business than that the rest
of the public should be inconvenienced
by crowded traffic conditions.
Mr.. Emo expressed the opinion that
members of the police department are
not sufficiently acquainted with the traf-
tic regulations and said he thought it
would be good thing if the Commits
siorlers would send representatives of the
force TO New York to observe how traffic
Is handled in that city.
Says Business Is Injured.
In presenting the request of the Re-
parking time limit be increased from
fifteen minutes to one hour. Charles ].
Columbus and Claude f. Miller, repre-
senting that organization, stated that
business has been injured by the pres
ent restriction They contended that
an increase In the time to one hour
would tend to remove the bulk of COM
pls tnts made against the regulation by
merchants.
William F. GUIDE said that as far as
his particular business is concerned he
had no complaint to make against the
Ia abiishInent had found that this wes
sufficient time in which to make pur-
chases, he stated.
Those Favoring Change.
among those who spoke in favor of
an extension Of time were W. ". Ev-
erett, representing Woodward &. 10th
rop: Joseph NJ. Stoddard of the Wash
ington Automobile Dealers Associa-
east Washington Citizens' Association
r. r. s. Embrey and r. p. Pullman of
the Builders and Manufacturer Ex-
change; c. A Wickersham, manager
of the Colorado building; w. G.. Kins-
man. Col. Myron NJ Parker and DR.. Z.
u. Thompson.
lie Roy Mark pointed out that IL the
time limit is extended to an hour the
pollce department Will nave greater
difficulty in enforcing the regulation.
See Better Conditions.
Commissioner Browniow stated that
the Commissioners are convinced that
the parking regulation has greatly i'm
proved traffic conditions. He said that
as far the District heads have been
Informed there is only one block in
which majority of the people oppose
the restriction.
The Commissioner stated that no pro-
spective changes will be made in the
regulations at any time until after u
hearing has been held and the public
given every opportunity to express its
views upon suggested amendments.