The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-26
USING STREET AS
PARKING PLACE
Main ThOrOughfare Made
Danger Source by
Auto Owners
LOCAL CITIZENS
MAKE SUGGESTIONS
Use of Common and Lot Near Watercure
Building Would Relieve Congestion
Pedestrians Contribute to Danger by
Jay-Wallsing.


Walking
A matter thaU is becoming of increas-
ing Importance, according to many com
ments that are heard about town, is the
question of what Brattleboro ought to
do in connection with the parking of
automobiles on Main street. For some
time people in general have recognized
the fact that something must be done
TO at least minimize the liability of ac-
cidents as well as to prevent the clogging
of the Main street which is so apparent
at times when both sides of the street
are filled witk parked automobiles.
1t has been stated by many people
that Brattleboro's Main street is one of
the most difficult streets to cross any
where in New England. In fact only
few days ago a citizen of the town was
heard to remark that he would rather
cross Fifth avenue in New York than
Main street here. Perhaps he had in
mind the excellent system used in the
movement of traffic in that particular
section of New York, where the move
ments of pedestrians. automobiles and
other vehicles are all controlled by the
traffic officers signals This citizens
remark, however, emphasizes the ne
cessitY of establishing some sort of sys-
tenn here in connection with the crossing
of, the Main street by pedestrians OBJ
SerYatlon OF conditions will show any
one that Jay 4walking" is a common oc-
surrence and the establishment of white
lines at the proper points of the street
intersections would eliminate to a large
degree the liability of accident. AT the
same time these white marks would
serve to caution motorists to be on
the alert, particularly tourists, many of
whom are almost through the town be-
fore they realize that they. have come
into Main street.
Anyone who attempts to cross the
street on Saturday afternoon or evening
always has his attention called. to this
important question of auto parking. At
this particular time the autos are SO
closely parked that it is only with diff
Guilty that people can pass between
them and with the number of persons
who come in machines into the village
from the West River valley and other
nearby towns, to do their shopping the
situation becomes all the more serious.
In addition the element of danger Is
present when parked auto attempts
to back out into the street in the face
of other automobiles that are passing
in both directions and with the cars so
car occasionally passing by. it is not al
ways easy for driver TO see Just where
he is backing 1t is common opinion
that the hand of fate alone has pre-
vented many an accident that ordinarily
would result from such conditions.
Numerous opinions have been eX-
pressed to The Reformer by citizens. who
are interested in this matter OF parking.
One citizen said today that the time is
near when the common will have to be
used for parking purposes. Under this
plan, a certain part of the common on
the three available sides could be used
for the autos to drive upon, but arrange
ments would have to be made for some
| one to be on duty there to protect the
cars while the occupants were doing
business at the town center. This same
citizen also suggested that the passage
! way back of Crosby block be made
one-way street which would serve in
| considerable degree to relieve the Main
/ street congestion and at the same time
would not affect the use of this passage
| way by the business vehicles that are
/ now accustomed to using it,
A second citizen interviewed said he
| had given much time and thought to the
| problem but had finally come to the con-
! clusion that it must work out way Tor
| itself
| Get hold of some property on one. of
| the side streets not far from Main that
| viii hold from loo to $50 cars. make a
| nominal charge for parking, say 10 or
| Is cents, and. you'll help the situation
| to a great extent" said another citizen.
Years ago." he continued, people used
| to drive into town with the horses and
| carriages and used to- pay 10 cents for
| the privilege of keeping them in the
| livery stables while they did their trad
| ing. Why can't automobiles do the same
| thing in some property, secured through
/ the village authorities or private. per
| laA 1o.., yaal nlnaf- fra
/ for parking there? Under this pian,
YOU could nrevent people from marking
| all day on Main street as is now the GUS
| tom Why, even some business men
| come down early in the morning and
| park their cars all day on the opposite
side of the street. simply because 1t is
more convenient. am in favor of doing
| away with this all day parking on the
| Main street. but people should have the
| privilege. OF course. of parking on Main
| street for 10 or l5 minutes or so.
i A fourth citizen interviewed said he
| would like to see system of parking
| time limits tried out on Main street. lie
| said it was wrong to allow cars to mark
on Main street all day. s'Make the town
cars use the side streets" he said, .and
let the people coming into the village
/ from the nearby towns have chance
to park here and there for - or 20 min
utes We ought to pive them a little
| consideration because they bring lots OF
! business TO the town and the business
men ought to be willing to ,noark their
own cars on the side streets"
Another citizen favored parking on
one side of the street only Suppose
Won had all the cars park on the west
side Of the street" he suggested This
would leave the whole east side of the
street open for traffic and would minin-
ize eongestion If people parking on the
west side parked there all day, then
place a time limit ON the parking. which