Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
All-Night Parking.

ban all-night parking on the streets
Of Washington has precipitated dis
cussion OF one OF the most serious
traffic problems confronting local
authorities. 1t Is a problem on which
there is q wide difference Of opinion
and one on which both the pros ard
cons can find not only hackers bat
logical reasons for their beliefs. Even
4 superficial study of the question
Will make apparent the fact that
there is much to be said on both sides
A close study. however, will tip the
balance in favor of a modified Fen
ming plan. to be put into effect at
some time in the future.
Supporters Of the proposed ban cite
the following reasons: Interference
with the fire and police authorities;
temptation to thieves; available road
way narrowed; inconvenience caused
by some one else parking in front of
your house all night, making it impos-
sible for you to get to the curb;
presumption Of space on the public
street, and so forth.
Opponents are equally emphatic
regarding a possible curtailment of
their rights" They point out that
1t is ridiculous to prohibit a man from
parking a car in front of his own
house; that the proposed rule would
work a hardship on many thousands
of motorists; that garage space in
many sections of the city is not OBJ
tainable; that profiteering would i'm
mediately result on the part Of garage
owners, and that many would be
forced to give up their automobiles.
And there you are,
y fair and impartial consideration
of the problem will, however, show
that the reasons cited by the OPP
ponents are far more susceptible to
flaws than those OF the proponents.
In the first place. the rapid increase
In the number of automobiles will soon
make it impossible to permit parking
either all-day downtown or all-night
uptown. The owners of eighteen thou
sand motor cars, it is estimated, now
use the public streets for garage pur.
poses, and only a very small percent
age are parked In front of the houses
of their owners. Even if they were, it
is evident that the owner of a house
has no inherent rights to the street
space in front of him. If he did every
u
reserve its own space on the same
theory.
That the proposed rule would work
a hardship on many motorists is an
admitted fact. but modern thought on
motor car ownership is rapidly reach
ing the stage where 1t is the belief
that any man who can afford to buy
and operate an automobile should be
financially responsible for any damage
he may cause. If he is not he consti-
tutes a menace to all other users of
the public highways, and the hardship
is on them instead OF on him.
Garage space at the present time is
not obtainable in many sections of the
city, and profiteering is very likely to
result If the rule is hastily put into
effect. It is believed that garages may
be constructed in a comparatively
short time, which would be adequate
to house al of the automobiles at
present using the streets.
From the foregoing it may be seen
that the question resolves itself into
somewhat this situation: Public park
ing on the streets, both day and night,
will soon have to be eliminated, or
else transportation will be stif1ed. A
ban on nighttime parking cannot, In
fairness to all concerned, be put into
effect without a considerable lapse
of time to allow adequate preparation
on the part of motorists and builders.
Profiteering should be carefully watch
ed and system worked out whereby
it can be prevented. The proposal. In
its present shape, barring parking
from to 5 am, is not workable, in
asmuch as there are many who are
legitimately on the streets between
those hours and who are not all-night
parkers. A modification of this clause
is needed. as the proposed regulation
Is not aimed at motorists who use
their automobiles on business or pleas
ure, but at those who garage their
cars in the streets.
1t is apparent that this problem
must be solved. Commissioner Fen
ning's proposal will undoubtedly evoke
discussion out of which a solution sat.
isfactory to all concerned may be
reached