After a snowstorm, battling for a parking spot in the city has always felt a bit like a struggle, but things are taking a serious turn. Many officials are expressing outrage over the actions of residents, claiming they’re not just unethical but possibly illegal as well.
In the Northeast, residents are staking claim to parking spaces they’ve just cleared of heavy snow after hours of shoveling in the cold, causing frustration among others. From Boston to Philadelphia, and all the way to Washington, D.C., it’s become common for drivers to use chairs, cones, trash cans—pretty much anything on hand—to save their hard-earned parking spot.
The situation is tricky. With large snowbanks taking up space, finding available parking becomes even tougher. The act of saving a spot might seem petty, but it’s creating real tension within communities.
A radio station in Boston labeled the growing conflict as “retaliation, brawling, and vandalism.” Recently, a man was critically injured in a fight over a saved space in Philadelphia, involving individuals wielding a knife and a legally owned firearm, though they ultimately put their weapons down to continue the brawl. It’s all quite disturbing, as noted by a police sergeant who remarked on how dire these situations can become.
An Old Tradition
The practice of using space savers reportedly began in Chicago after a major snowstorm back in January 1967, dropping an astonishing 23 inches of snow. In some places, it’s informally called “diving,” while in Pittsburgh, the “Pittsburgh Parking Chair” has become a well-known term. Residents often use lawn chairs or traffic cones, but some have taken it to humorous extremes by using items like vacuum cleaners or even toilets in Boston. In Philadelphia, it’s not unusual to see folding tables or plastic trash cans being used.
Ippolito Snow Service’s owner noted the creativity people employ when saving their spots—he even saw someone using an ironing board this winter. It’s certainly a unique season for these space-saving tactics, particularly considering the significant time and effort folks have spent shoveling away the snow.
Enforcement Issues
It’s worth noting that space savers are illegal in Philadelphia, raising the stakes on these disputes. Baltimore’s mayor recently emphasized that any saved spot wouldn’t be safe from removal. The Baltimore City Department of Transportation pointed out that using makeshift space savers can actually impede snowplowing and create hazards when objects get caught in the machinery.
In fact, this isn’t a new issue. Years ago, the then-D.C. Police Chief warned that such actions can stir up tensions among neighbors, reiterating that no one holds the legal right to claim public road space permanently. It’s a complex and ongoing situation that touches on community relations, safety, and even public policy. As cities face continued snowstorms, the debate will likely persist.
