Washington Heights seems to be experiencing its own reality.
Drivers in this Manhattan neighborhood are using traffic cones, Con Ed barriers, and abandoned e-bikes to unofficially reserve parking spaces on the streets.
This creative method of saving parking spots has surged in popularity, largely due to imitators who have adopted the tactic after witnessing others face no consequences, much to the frustration of local residents.
“There are people here who have owned certain spots for five years straight,” said Andrew Pollick, 55, who has lived in the neighborhood for 15 years.
“Nobody seems to touch them. Nobody does anything about them. The police certainly don’t do anything about them. That’s their personal parking spot.”
According to Pollick, traffic cones, barriers, and broken-down motorcycles are scattered throughout Washington Heights, particularly around St. Nicholas Avenue and 155th Street.
When these drivers return home, they simply place their spot savers on the sidewalk next to their parking spot, leaving them untouched until needed again.
Parking spaces are a precious commodity in this Manhattan neighborhood. According to toomanycars.org, there are fewer than 190,000 free street parking spots available across the entire borough, based on city data.
Alternate side parking rules are enforced twice weekly on nearly all streets in Washington Heights, and a $65 fine is imposed on those who fail to comply.
To avoid these parking issues, residents can pay up to $500 a month for a spot in a parking garage.
This practice has been ongoing for years but has intensified recently due to a “copycat phenomenon,” as Pollick describes it.
“People see that nobody stops them and they see that those people don’t get in trouble. So why not?” explained Pollick, a music teacher.
Since January 2020, more than 18,779 illegal parking complaints have been registered in the 33rd precinct, with nearly 750 reported in the past three months alone.
Pollick has also raised concerns directly with the police, but he was informed that officers need to catch the offenders in the act to take action.
The NYPD stated that it investigates all 311 complaints, particularly those regarding illegal parking.
“Year-to-date, there have been over 15,000 parking summonses issued within the confines of the 33 precinct for a variety of parking violations,” a spokesperson said.
The parking situation has become a significant issue for residents, who often spend “hours” searching for parking near their homes.
“Sometimes have to double park and wait for a couple hours in order to get a spot,” one St. Nicholas Avenue resident told The Post.
Miyuki Best, who also lives along the affected avenue, identified cones as the main culprit but noted that the influx of visitors has worsened the problem.
“It’s getting so much worse. It’s very hard to find parking. People put cones and stuff to save spots … My neighbors who don’t have a spot, they have to keep looking and park really far and stuff,” Best, 57, said.
“Now there’s new buildings, a new cafe, and new restaurants, which is great, but it brings more people in which makes parking even harder. At the same time, I noticed new meters in the area that weren’t there before. While these are supposed to help, a problem still exists.”
Another neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned having to park as far as four blocks from home most days.
“I would like people to be considerate, for one thing, and not put cones up, because they do, and they block and prevent others from getting in,” she said.
— Additional reporting by Kyle Schnitzer
