Eliminate Weekly Street Cleaning Days
By
Staten Island, NY Posted: 1/21/2015 1:00:00 AM
Have you noticed that some of the cleanest cities don't have any No Parking / Street Cleaning rules?
I've got news for you. Some of those cities not only manage to have clean streets, but some are actually cleaner than New York's streets.
Some of you are shaking your heads in disbelief, and asking... "How on earth can those cities possibly have clean streets when they don't force cars to scramble around and double park twice a week so that the street sweepers can clean them?"
Instead of the city sweeping the streets, the building owners do it.
I'm sure by now, some New Yorkers have passed out. I'll give you a moment to regain your composure and let this sink in. Relax. It's not the end of the world.
Believe it or not, if the city didn't sweep the curb in front of your property, you can actually handle it. You already sweep the sidewalk with one of those high tech inventions, the "Broom". Believe it or not, brooms do a fine job of cleaning streets too.
If you've passed out again or started to hyperventilate, please take a moment to shake it off. Walk, if it helps. Yes. Your broom can actually clean the curb, so relax. You won't need any new tools.
This may sound like an exaggeration, but it's not far from the remarks I've heard when I've brought up this subject with New Yorkers. Every day, countless cars jockey around looking for a place to double park for a few hours so the street sweeper clean the street. They even accept the fact when forget to move their cars they get a $75 fine. To them that's a good day; at least they weren't towed.
To them, it's a small price to pay to have clean streets.
If they are so concerned with having clean streets, why not just require building owners to clean the space around their building, and issue a fine if it's neglected?
Not only would streets be just as clean, but think of the benefits when people aren't driving around looking for another spot? There would be less double parking, no productivity losses when people have to run out to move their car... and local businesses wouldn't lose customers who can't find a spot.
Some cities have street cleaning days as frequent as three times a week, some twice a week and others just once, and many cities have none. The big question is how often do streets even need cleaning? Calgary, Canada is listed among The cleanest cities in the world yet they only clean each street just once a year.... not twice a week. The same is true for other cities in the top 10 cleanest street list such as Ottawa, Canada, and for Minneapolis. According to Pat Nelson, a NY Times Op-Ed Contributor's opinion, some may question whether the sweepers even... clean the streets.
I know. I'm crazy. Never mind. Besides, today is Wednesday. Your beloved sweeper will be along at 10. Why not give him a big thumbs up while you read the newspaper from the double parked car across the street. I'm sure he's used to that.
Joe Crescenzi, Founder
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