Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-16
BY DONALD A. CRAIG


Washington is unique in the size and
character of its all-night parking prob
lem, says the Automobile Parking Com
mittee OF Washington, comprised of
representatives of the Federal and Dis
trict governments and of the local trade
and civic bodies.
Within period of two years." the
committee recommends, "all-night park
ing at any place in the city should be
prohibited"
In reaching@tKis and its other con-
illusions the committee had the assist
ance and experience of DR.. Miller Nc
Clintock of the Erskine Bureau of Traf-
fic Research of Harvard University and
of Charles w. Eliot, I'd, director of
planning for the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, other mem
bers of the local planning staff and a
group of five special assistants.
In densely populated residential areas,
and particularly in the vicinity of
apartment houses, the committee points
out, the streets are so filled with stored
cars that the finding of parking spaces
during the evening hours is rendered
very inconvenient.
Interference Pointed Out.
"AI-night parking offers an unrea-
ing and snow removal, and is an en-
couragement to thievery," says the COM
mittee. This bad practice has been
accepted, and indeed encouraged, by
builders through the failure to provide
off-street garage facilities. 1t is Dot an
unreasonable expectation that the own
ers of private automobiles should pro-
vide garaging at or near their place Of
residence. It is recognized that an i'm
mediate enforcement of a prohibition
against all-night parking would work
undue hardship. 1t S recommended,
however, that in the program of park
ing and traffic relief it be indicated
that at the expiration of two years time
it will be the purpose to vigorously en-
force regulations against this practice"
A substantial percentage of private
dwellings in the city, 1t is shown, are
already provided with garages. Most
residents can make such q provision,
or at least provide adequate space on
private land for storage purposes.
Under suitable restrictions storage ga
RACES should be permitted in districts
zoned for apartment houses.
It is recommended that the builders
of large apartment houses and outlying
hotels consider the practicability OF in
cooperating garage capacity as an in
tegral part of their structures. This
has been done in scores of instances
throughout the country to the entire
satisfaction and greatly increased con-
venience of tenants.
Curb space in the daytime in the
central district Is too valuable to have
a third of its total capacity monopoliEed
by z per cent of the parkers. When
98S drivers occupy spaces that would
have afforded access to business eStab-
lishments by 5,549 one-hour parkers
the distribution caItnot be said to be
equitable nor profitable. II was shown
that rs, or q majority, of those long
tirne parkers initiate their parking be-
tween and, $50 am, and that
there is strong presumption that the
offenders are business men or workers
rather than purchasers. 1t Is true
that the prevalence of this bad practice
is indicative of laXity Of enforcement
which Is later discussed. 1t is recog-
nized, however, that time limits are
difficult to enforce in a comprehensive
or complete manner. If these long
time parkers are not permitted to park
until after the hour for the opening Of
offices and business establishments it
is believed that the majority of them
will be forced to drop the practice.
Would Restrict Parking.
1t is recommended that in the dis
trict bounded by the medal lines of
New York avenue, Seventh street, Penn
sylvania avenue and Fifteenth street,
no parking be permitted between the
hours of and $3.50 am. Vehicles
engaged in the loading or unloading Of
passengers or merchandise may stop at
the curb.
Enforcement must depend upon the
business men and the property owners
of the central district, It is held,
through a recognition of the close re-
lation which fair and equitable use
of curb space bears to business accessi-
bility. The ability of thousands to
business daily is regarded more
important than special privileges for
one or a score of special patrons no
matter how important.
Without such demands and sup
ports no police department can con-
duct effective parking enforcement"
the committee contends.
Parking enforcement is a vital mat
ter OF the protection of business values.
Adequate personnel should and must
be provided If effective results are to
be obtained Three or four officers
cannot supervise the parking habits of
thousands of motorists in the central
district. 1t Is recommended that not
ASoo Oildl IL, alp preferably 10. OmCerS
be assigned to full time parking duty
in the central business district as de-
scribed in this report
Tours of duty should be rotated in
various districts on an irregular sched-
ule. The officers and their superiors
should be assured that parking enforce
ment is not a gratuitous recording of
registration numbers, but that each
Violator receive the prescribed penalty.
Parking enforcement is a difficult
and thankless task. but 1t is by no means
beyond the power of a conscientious de-
partment with proper public support