Why do you see cars double-parked in New York?
As you walk around New York, you may have already noticed cars lined up double-parked while empty parking spaces sit across the street. Let me explain this strange parking dance...
The strange dance of cars in New York…
- New York streets can hold surprising sights. Walking through Manhattan or Brooklyn, near the Brooklyn Bridge, you’ve probably seen columns of cars double-parked while empty parking spaces sit right across the street against the curb.
- This happens one to two times a week in New York, driven by parking sign rules. The roughly 90-minute shuffle affects only drivers hunting for free parking spots.
Why parking is so expensive in New York
- To understand this, know that a parking spot costs around $400 per month in New York on average. In some neighborhoods, prices reach $600 per month. At those rates, free street parking becomes very attractive.
- Outside major avenues with parking meters, some streets allow free parking. The catch: drivers must move their cars one to two times per week so the city’s street cleaning trucks can pass.
- Parking spots must be completely clear—all cars removed. The day and time are posted on parking signs. When that deadline hits, many New Yorkers rush to leave and find a new spot…
Understanding alternate side parking in New York
- Pay attention to the signs and you’ll see the alternate parking rules. Here’s an example from a Brooklyn sign. It shows that on Tuesday between 11:30 am and 1 pm (“TUES” for Tuesday), parking is forbidden on that side of the street for 90 minutes.
- The rest of the time, you can park free. One rule for newcomers: never park in front of a fire hydrant along the curb.
An alternate side parking sign in Brooklyn. (photo Laurène Hamilton)
- Since outdoor dining expanded, free parking spots have shrunk. Finding street parking in Brooklyn and elsewhere grows harder. I learned this the hard way one morning. Some residents discovered this parking dance technique, which I’ve now adopted myself.
- When the deadline arrives, some drivers move their car to the other side, staying inside for 90 minutes. Meanwhile, police arrive to ticket cars left on the now-forbidden side (see photo below). While New York police officers happily pose for photos with tourists, they enforce parking rules strictly.
New York police precede the street sweeper truck (photo Laurène Hamilton)
- Then the street cleaning truck passes to sweep the now-empty section. Once the spots are clean, drivers rush back to secure their spot… until next week.
le camion balai doit avoir le champ libre à New York (Photo DR)
- With this technique, smart drivers avoid a $65 ticket (the fine in my Carroll Gardens neighborhood in Brooklyn) and save on monthly parking rental. The downside: you need to spend 90 minutes in your car on a weekday, which doesn’t always fit everyone’s schedule.