NEW YORK—New York City’s parking spaces are a coveted commodity. Finding a place to park a reasonable distance from one’s destination—a shop, restaurant or a bank—might prove to be a herculean task.
This is not only due to congestion, many of the parking spaces in the city are hogged by fake or misused city-issued parking permits, claims a new report by Transportation Alternatives (TA), a walking, cycling, and public transit advocacy organization.
According to the report, 57 percent of permits surveyed were either fakes or authentic ones used for purposes other than official city business, or parking in an illegal space. TA estimates the number of fake permits citywide to range between 10,000 and 25,000.
This practice has a negative effect on business, say merchants. “People tell us they have driven by and see our window, but do not stop, because there is no place to park,” said Barbara Clurman of Silkroad Antiques in downtown Brooklyn and a board member of the Atlantic Avenue Betterment Association. “You [can] lose a lot of customers that way. You have people parking in front of your shop all day. They don’t get ticketed, and they keep our customers from finding a parking place. Even if you have a legitimate permit, you can’t use it for commuter parking,” she added.
This is not the first time the issue has been on the table. In 2008, following reports by advocacy organizations, Mayor Michael Bloomberg reduced the number of parking permits in an attempt to combat permit abuse. But the situation remains grave, said Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives.
“The permit abuse is dangerous,” he said during a press conference on Wednesday for the release of the report. White noted that parking in illegal places, such as in front of fire hydrants, can result in the loss of lives. White also noted that a fake permit placard was used in the failed bombing attempt in Times Square two years ago.
This is not only due to congestion, many of the parking spaces in the city are hogged by fake or misused city-issued parking permits, claims a new report by Transportation Alternatives (TA), a walking, cycling, and public transit advocacy organization.
According to the report, 57 percent of permits surveyed were either fakes or authentic ones used for purposes other than official city business, or parking in an illegal space. TA estimates the number of fake permits citywide to range between 10,000 and 25,000.
This practice has a negative effect on business, say merchants. “People tell us they have driven by and see our window, but do not stop, because there is no place to park,” said Barbara Clurman of Silkroad Antiques in downtown Brooklyn and a board member of the Atlantic Avenue Betterment Association. “You [can] lose a lot of customers that way. You have people parking in front of your shop all day. They don’t get ticketed, and they keep our customers from finding a parking place. Even if you have a legitimate permit, you can’t use it for commuter parking,” she added.
This is not the first time the issue has been on the table. In 2008, following reports by advocacy organizations, Mayor Michael Bloomberg reduced the number of parking permits in an attempt to combat permit abuse. But the situation remains grave, said Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives.
“The permit abuse is dangerous,” he said during a press conference on Wednesday for the release of the report. White noted that parking in illegal places, such as in front of fire hydrants, can result in the loss of lives. White also noted that a fake permit placard was used in the failed bombing attempt in Times Square two years ago.
