Evening star., 1921-10-21
ANNOUNCE HEARING
| ON PARKING ORDER
D. C. Heads to Get Views of
Those Interested in New
Traffic Regulation.

A public hearing Will be held in the
board room of the District building
at 1880 o'clock on the morning OF
Thursday, October 81. to hear views
on the new traffic regulation which
would prohibit the parking of auto
mobiles in front of the entrance to
any business establishment in the
downtown section.
This announcement was made by
the Commissioners today after they
had considered in board session the
flood of protests that flowed into the
District building following announce
ment OF the new regulation.
Decision to hold public hearing
means that the new rule will not go
into effect on November 20, as orig
inally expected.
1t is probable that the hearing next
Thursday will develop into general
discussion of the question of down
town parking, which admittedly has
reached u state of congestion requir
ing some action.
1t is understood the Commissioners
are firm in the belief that the new
regulation is fair and reasonable in
so far as it prohibits parking in front
of hotels, banks and the public
buildings
The phrase 'or other place of busi-
ness in the new regulation was large
ly responsible for the storm of pro-
test IT is believed the Commissioners
are inclined to strike out that part
Of the regulation, but it was felt that
public hearing should be held be-
fore any change is made. SO that
whatever action is taken will follow
complete expression of opinion from
the people.
Agree Revision Is Needed.
Nearly all of those who have pro-
tested against the new rule agree
with the Commissioners that some re-
vision of the downtown parking rules
is needed. They feel, however, that
as now worded the new regulation is
too drastic.
Commissioner Oyster said today he
is obtaining information as to the
parking rules in effect in other large
cities for the guidance of the Com
missioners in any further action tax
en- on the subject.
In contrast to the numerous letters
of protest pouring into the District
building. the Commissioners today re-
ceived from Representative John f.
of the regulation.
MIR. MilIer's Letter Quoted.
Representative Millers letter fol-
lows:
Amid the storm of protest arising
as the result of your recent reSula-
tions prohibiting the parking of auto
mobiles in the congested district OF the
city, it may be restful TO receive a
commendatory word.
Il thoroughly approve of your re-
cent regulation. OF course. il is nat
ural that this 'spasm' should come
from the owners of automobiles, who
for so long have been and are now in
different to the convenience of those
who must take the street on foot. A
proper recognition of fire and police
protection would likewise approve of
your recent order"
Opposite Viewpoints.
Opposite viewpoints as to the de-
STABILITY of the new parking reguia :
ions are embodied in letters received
today by TIE editor of The Star. James
NJ. Spear comments upon the subject
on the basis of the experience of one
wro drives his own car" He says:
II have long since ceased to use my
car for errands in the congested Sec
ton, finding it more satisfactory to
use the street car or walk. for at
times when / have endeavored to use
the automobile have travelled block
after block looking for space to
park for ten or fifteen minutes, and
finally had to walk SO far, that / have
given up the practice altogether.
Il believe that if careful investiga-
ton could be made it would be found
that the present accumulation of cars
parked on the streets of this section is
due mainly to those left for much
longer than the period allowed at
present. and. in fact. due largely to
all-day parking.
Il appreciate that it is difficult.
without the provision of larger
number of traffic officers. to enforce
the present regulations, but l regard
the present condition as intolerable
and believe the proposed regulations
would produce results more satisfac-
tory to the public as a whole than
exist under the rules now in force.
"At present driver must stop in
the middle of the street to discharge
passengers, not only to their 'incon-
venience. annoyance and possible
danger but to the obstruction of traf-
fic as we'll"
Practically Is Doubted.
DIR. William II. Deck. on the other
hand, while agreeing with Mr.. Spear
upon the fact that existing traffic
regulations cannot be enforced,
doubts the practicality of the new
regulations and submits a substitute
proposal which he believes will pro-
vide for the convenience of both mo-
torists and merchants. His sugges-
ton follows:
mo motor vehicle shall be parked.
between the hours of am. and 6
D. M, on any, street, alley or roadway
in the congested district, except as
hereinafter designated, at a distance
of less than thirty feet from the next
adjacent parked vehicle, fireplug.
alley or street intersection, and the
time limit for parking any motor
vehicle SO parked shall be not more
than thirty minutes: Provided, That
the police department shall indicate.
by white painted stripes, four inches
in width. on all curbinSs in said dis
trict, each thirty-foot interval; Pro-
yided further, That the person or
persons responsible for. the loading
on unloading of motor vehicles shall
not permit such loading or unloading
to exceed O period of two hours con-
tinuous operations; Provided further.
That at no time shall a motor We
hicle be parked parallel with the
curbing at a distance of less than
five feet from the vehicle parked i'm
mediately in front of it or less than
three feet from sthe vehicle parked
behind it in the District of Columbia; /;
Provided, further, That at no time
shall a motor vehicle be parked at
right angle, or at 45-degree angle,
to any curbing in the District of Co
lumbia, at distance of less than IS
inches from the vehicle to the right
of 1t and Is inches from the vehicle