Better Use of a Parking Spot

July 20, 2006 at 9:57 am | In transportation, the Commons, humanize, open space, Chicago |

Via the carfree email list and then by web search:

Citywide parking space art event
The only requirements are that you:
1. Use a parking space with a meter
2. Don’t engage in any activity that would be illegal in and of itself

You will “rent” the space(s) by paying the requisite amount for the time. This payment should authorize and entitle you to use the space in any way you choose. Why should cars be privileged? Why should so much space be devoted exclusively to automobiles?

The purpose of these citywide action/performances is to interfere with the monolithic and unimaginative uses of urban space.

– Jenny Roberts

7 Comments

  1. Pretty sure that there are many laws concerning what you may do in the public road. You’re not “renting” the space: you are paying for the privilege of leaving your car stationary on the public road. Nice try, though. Made me thing of a later Talking Heads song.

    Comment by Bepah Benoweh — August 4, 2006 #

  2. As long as you pay for the meter, I don’t see anything wrong with doing anything you like in the space. Arrests would make good press, I’d think, epecially if a message rejecting car-culture can be transmitted.

    Comment by ted — August 4, 2006 #

  3. Orlando Food Not Bombs has been feeding the hungry in a parking space, out of a car for the past few weeks (an ordinance was passed to prevent all public sharings of food in public parks). The cops tried to find every reason to arrest us, but couldnt. So Im guessing that police wouldn’t do very much… as long as you stay within the space, and keep your activities within legal limits.

    Comment by Brittany — September 5, 2006 #

  4. That’s great, Brittany! Thanks for sharing the good news.

    Comment by ted — September 5, 2006 #

  5. I don’t get it. If you put a car in the parking space, what’s the point? It’s legal to park a car in a parking space, almost tautologically so. I thought the point was to demonstrate the space shouldn’t privilege automobiles. If the city is determined to prevent food sharing in parks, why not share food from a bike? You know, use panniers.

    Comment by Bepah Benoweh — September 5, 2006 #

  6. […] Better Use of a Parking Spot  5 Bepah Benoweh, ted, Brittany, ted, Bepah Benoweh […]

    Pingback by Humanize the Earth! » Blog Archive » Dancing in the streets — September 26, 2006 #

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    Comment by Antibush — February 14, 2007 #

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