Page 88 - Issue4-November2017_online_opt
P. 88
LESS TRAVELEDTHESIDEWALK
Nby Eve Poupko a child pass her driver’s test – I survived, tired and weary. As you might know,
ormally, one does not look for I’m proud to say – I am familiar with the finding a parking spot is tantamount to
an open miracle. However, a three-point turn and the U-turn. I was earning a gold medal in the Olympics – if
recent trip to Brooklyn con- not familiar with the drive-onto-the-side- you’re talking about a legal parking spot,
vinced me that the laws of walk-and-cross-four-lanes-of-traffic–to- that is. Tooling up and down Thirteenth
nature are suspended for this propel-yourself-across-the-avenue type Avenue, it is not uncommon to see cars,
fine borough of New York, at of U-turn. What a harrowing experience! trucks, and vans double- or triple-parked.
least when it comes to trans- The strange thing is, while you’re cling- This does not faze Brooklynites in the
portation. This is particularly ing to the passenger-side door, trying not least. Drivers simply maneuver around
evident when driving and is equally true to have a heart attack, the driver, who the parked vehicles, swerving into on-
when parking. One soon learns that, in shall remain nameless but not blameless, coming traffic, and continue on their
Flatbush and Boro Park, the rules of the was completely unfazed by this literal way. The only people who lose out are the
road are not written in stone or, shall “turn” of events. unsuspecting (out–of-town), law-abid-
we say, in pavement. For example, when ing citizens, whose glee at having found
traveling on a main thoroughfare such as Things only got better. As we drove a legal parking spot quickly disappears
Ocean Parkway, it seems that stopping at down the newly-paved portion of Coney when they come back to find themselves
a red light is optional. As expected, some Island Avenue, we experienced the unex- blocked in.
beeping and honking of horns does en- pected: a pleasantly smooth ride. Our en-
sue. Ironically, the beeping is not aimed joyment, not to mention peace of mind, On a semi-positive note, this severe
at the offending red-light runner. Rather, came to an abrupt halt, however, when parking shortage has motivated retail es-
it is meant to urge on the person whose we realized that this very wide and busy tablishments to “think outside the spot.”
light has just turned green. After all, why road had no lines on it – you know, the Some supermarkets now offer – get ready
should a little thing like a car barreling ones that tell you what lane you’re in or, for this – valet parking. I know that if you
through the intersection at 50 mph stop even more importantly, which side of the live in Brooklyn you think this is normal.
that driver from exercising his rightful road you’re supposed to be on. I mean, It’s not. The rest of the world actually has
right of way or, even worse, causing de- even if there was not enough money to supermarkets with parking lots. Unfortu-
lays for the people waiting impatiently finish the job properly, hasn’t anyone nately for those of us from out-of-town,
behind him? around here heard of sidewalk chalk? valet parking at a supermarket causes a
Thank goodness we were able to escape bit of cognitive dissonance – you know,
Intersections are not the only areas unscathed. the confusion that results when faced
where one must be wary. There is also with the coupling of two things that
the infamous U-turn. Having recently Driving is not the only area in which don’t really go together.
experienced the lifecycle event of having Brooklyn sets itself apart. Parking also
features prominently in the lives of the (continued on page 84)
80 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
Nby Eve Poupko a child pass her driver’s test – I survived, tired and weary. As you might know,
ormally, one does not look for I’m proud to say – I am familiar with the finding a parking spot is tantamount to
an open miracle. However, a three-point turn and the U-turn. I was earning a gold medal in the Olympics – if
recent trip to Brooklyn con- not familiar with the drive-onto-the-side- you’re talking about a legal parking spot,
vinced me that the laws of walk-and-cross-four-lanes-of-traffic–to- that is. Tooling up and down Thirteenth
nature are suspended for this propel-yourself-across-the-avenue type Avenue, it is not uncommon to see cars,
fine borough of New York, at of U-turn. What a harrowing experience! trucks, and vans double- or triple-parked.
least when it comes to trans- The strange thing is, while you’re cling- This does not faze Brooklynites in the
portation. This is particularly ing to the passenger-side door, trying not least. Drivers simply maneuver around
evident when driving and is equally true to have a heart attack, the driver, who the parked vehicles, swerving into on-
when parking. One soon learns that, in shall remain nameless but not blameless, coming traffic, and continue on their
Flatbush and Boro Park, the rules of the was completely unfazed by this literal way. The only people who lose out are the
road are not written in stone or, shall “turn” of events. unsuspecting (out–of-town), law-abid-
we say, in pavement. For example, when ing citizens, whose glee at having found
traveling on a main thoroughfare such as Things only got better. As we drove a legal parking spot quickly disappears
Ocean Parkway, it seems that stopping at down the newly-paved portion of Coney when they come back to find themselves
a red light is optional. As expected, some Island Avenue, we experienced the unex- blocked in.
beeping and honking of horns does en- pected: a pleasantly smooth ride. Our en-
sue. Ironically, the beeping is not aimed joyment, not to mention peace of mind, On a semi-positive note, this severe
at the offending red-light runner. Rather, came to an abrupt halt, however, when parking shortage has motivated retail es-
it is meant to urge on the person whose we realized that this very wide and busy tablishments to “think outside the spot.”
light has just turned green. After all, why road had no lines on it – you know, the Some supermarkets now offer – get ready
should a little thing like a car barreling ones that tell you what lane you’re in or, for this – valet parking. I know that if you
through the intersection at 50 mph stop even more importantly, which side of the live in Brooklyn you think this is normal.
that driver from exercising his rightful road you’re supposed to be on. I mean, It’s not. The rest of the world actually has
right of way or, even worse, causing de- even if there was not enough money to supermarkets with parking lots. Unfortu-
lays for the people waiting impatiently finish the job properly, hasn’t anyone nately for those of us from out-of-town,
behind him? around here heard of sidewalk chalk? valet parking at a supermarket causes a
Thank goodness we were able to escape bit of cognitive dissonance – you know,
Intersections are not the only areas unscathed. the confusion that results when faced
where one must be wary. There is also with the coupling of two things that
the infamous U-turn. Having recently Driving is not the only area in which don’t really go together.
experienced the lifecycle event of having Brooklyn sets itself apart. Parking also
features prominently in the lives of the (continued on page 84)
80 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
