New Parking Plan Coming To Downtown Street?

Fairhope, Alabama


Johnson Avenue (horizontal street)

REVERSE ANGLE  PARKING PROPOSED

A new way to park may be coming to sections of Johnson Avenue, where instead of pulling into angled parking spaces head-on and backing up to get out,  drivers will have to back into the parking space and move forward to exit it.

Theoretically, this would eliminate the blind backing out into traffic that may be dangerous, especially for vehicles with poor rear visibility (or heavily-tinted windows).

Public Works Director Johnson told the city council that after being installed possibly later this Spring, the new design would be a test case for installation elsewhere in town; if it does not work then it could be put back like it was with only minor expense (cost of the paint).












Comments

Anonymous said…
Kind of stupid if you ask me. I mean, you pull up past the open spot, you have an idiot that is going to ride your tail, no room left to back up.
Anonymous said…
OH HELL no has anyone really seen anyone backing into a space .This is a disaster waiting to happen.Most can't drive forward as it is.How about build a parking garage like was proposed several years ago.
Giorgi said…
Makes no sense in more ways than one
Anonymous said…
Better update your insurance if you plan to drive there.
Anonymous said…
Parking garage is behind Hampton Inn.
Anonymous said…
I would love to know what brilliant mind begat this insanity! If people can't back out b/c of traffic problems, how on earth could they possibly back in? I am betting that someone saw parking spaces where one drives in/then out and didn't understand what he/she was looking at. I hope that the City is not paying this individual a lot of money for his/her 'vision'!
Anonymous said…
Maybe I am missing something, but it reminds me of parallel parking, only easier. Possible issue would be identifying spaces in time. Unlike parallel parking, where it is generally easy to spot an open space and turn on a blinker in sufficient time to let the person behind you know what you are doing; in this situation, an open space might not be obvious (particularly if a large truck or SUV is parked in the space before it) until you are partially past it, but even then, seems doable.
Anonymous said…
It is always easy to back out of a space in Fairhope because there is always someone coming along who is anxious to take your space. Anyone who believes that one can pull up in advance of a space and then back into it is not thinking about the bumper to bumper traffic created by our coin operated city council. Once one passes that parking spot, the opportunity is lost.
Anonymous said…
If this becomes reality, woman should be ban from parking downtown! LOL
Anonymous said…
whitch woman are you proposing to ban, dum dum?
Anonymous said…
They do this in Austin TX. And it works great.
Anonymous said…
Sounds like the new public works director. Very smart with no common sense.
Anonymous said…
The key word is signal. Hardly anyone signals. The majority prefer to test the psychic abilities of the driver behind them. And I agree with the other comments that cars follow too closely to allow for driving past and backing up. Going back to parallel parking would be better and allow for increased visibility .

Or make the core business district pedestrian and golf carts only. Won’t happen, but would be nice. The number of parking spaces could increase as golf carts do not require a large parking space.
Anonymous said…
I used to love coming downtown for lunch, a stroll through the streets, and maybe a little shopping. Now it is a rare event and it is mostly due to the parking situation. The side streets are crowded with large trucks unloading supplies and drivers eager to get somewhere fast. Backing into an available space in a timely manner isn't something I think I want to do. However, I am glad that the city is looking into this problem.
Anonymous said…
I can't back worth a flip, never could. I'd hold up traffic for ever!
Anonymous said…
I'll open a golf cart rental for the thousands of tourists each year! Great idea, just sayin'
Anonymous said…
This is great. Much safer. Open the door and you’re directed to the sidewalk. Finish shopping and the trunk is at the sidewalk. Pulling out is safer and easier. Getting people used to parking this way is the hard part but once they do it will be the greatest thing in downtown parking. It works all over the world.
Anonymous said…
First of all, this isn't Austin. Fairhope drivers struggle with navigating a four way stop. This could possibly be the most ridiculous idea proposed by the city in the history of ever.
Anonymous said…
Everybody complained about the new traffic circles, now the same people praise them.
Anonymous said…
Ha ha this only works if you have courteous people. I was trying to cross the street in Fairhope by the library yrs back and this woman sped up so I could not cross. As she passed I recognized her as my neighbor and they own a small insurance branch in Fairhope and on a daily she tells people how big of a Christian that she is. The woman did not know that it was me as we had only lived there for a short time. I laugh about it still to this day.