Now it’s truly a day of rest.
The city changed its rules for alternate side parking from Saturdays to weekdays on several streets in Midwood so observant Jews will not have to move their cars over Shabbos, the local pol announced on Aug. 17. With the new pre-pay muni-meters in the neighborhood, parking on the day of rest will get a bit more restful, said Councilman David Greenfield (D–Midwood).
“This is such an important issue to me as a councilman, because parking spaces are so scarce in our neighborhoods,” Greenfield said. “Not only are there more observant Jews here than anywhere else in the world, but more people use cars here than almost anywhere else in New York City. That’s why I have worked with City Hall on a multitude of parking regulations to make it easier to park before Shabbos.”
Streets where the city had originally scheduled cleanings on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays will now be switched to just Tuesdays and Thursdays, so drivers will be absolved of the stress of finding a viable spot to last the weekend or risk getting a ticket.
The streets affected are Avenue M from Coney Island Avenue to Ocean Avenue, Avenue J from E. 12th to E. 17th streets, Elm Avenue from Bay Avenue to E. 17th Street and from E. 14th to E. 15th streets, and Coney Island Avenue from Avenues I to K, according to information from Greenfield’s office and the Department of Transportation.
And the change comes after another Department of Transportation-implemented program Mayor DeBlasio announced back in May that the city plans to extend pre-payment hours on 1,300 muni-meters across Borough Park and Flatbush from two to four hours on Fridays, ahead of Shabbos.
Motorists can now pay in advance at 3 pm, well before sundown, and are not required to pay for the rest of the day at 159 meters on several streets throughout Midwood, according to the Department of Transportation. The muni-meters affected are on Coney Island Avenue from Avenues I to L, Avenue J from Coney Island Ave to East 17th Street, Avenue M from Coney Island Avenue to Ocean Avenue, and over in Borough Park on New Utrecht Avenue from Ft. Hamilton Pkwy to 56th Street, according to the Department of Transportation.
