Temperatures are rising and the days are growing longer. Folks are visiting the Hill, stopping by our shops and restaurants. Construction workers abound. Residents are out and about, walking dogs and hosting weekend get-togethers. Kids can be seen riding bikes, chalking up sidewalks and playing ball. Our streets are full, both of people and cars, trucks and SUVs.
Driving and navigating Hill streets can be challenging in the best of times. Getting about on a busy weekend day or late afternoons even more so, especially when drivers ignore basic rules and common courtesy when parking their vehicles on our streets, near alleys and on sidewalks.
Ordinance regulates how and where vehicles may be parked in the City of the St. Louis. Those ordinances are found in Chapter 17.24.
Here are a couple of things to remember when you park on City streets, whether you’re a long-time Hill resident, new neighbor or weekend visitor:
- Unless directed otherwise, vehicles must be parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within 12 inches of the right-hand curb;
- Vehicles should not be parked on a sidewalk, on a crosswalk or within an intersection; Vehicles should not be parked along a curb marked with yellow paint; and
Five feet must separate your vehicle from the rounding of the nearest driveway, alley or private street. - When you park on the street, ask yourself if your vehicle interferes with the ability of others to safely move about. For instance, cars parked in a crosswalk or on a sidewalk interfere with the ability of pedestrians and other motorists to see each other at intersections.
- SUVs parked against an alleyway interfere with our residents’ ability to see on-coming traffic and safely pull from the alley onto the adjacent street.
- And, trucks parked more than a foot from the curb make tight passageways even tighter and more difficult to navigate during high-traffic times. In sum, be courteous to both residents and neighborhood visitors.
Many residents drive their golf carts around the neighborhood.
Remember that City regulations governing the operation of vehicles also govern operation of golf carts in our community.
