Tuesday, November 15, 2011

If You Haven't Got a Ha'Penny...

When Walker Evans and I visit the area around Women's and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, surrounded by Elmwood Avenue, Hodge Avenue, Delaware Avenue and Bryant Street, it is usually between 8-9 a.m.
This means that we get to see the daily Parking Maneuver Olympics and Exhibition, as vehicles try to find free on-street parking while the occupants attend to various business or relatives' treatment at the hospital. This is in addition to residents parking on one side of the street, as city laws allow.
What amazes me is to see vehicles such as Cadillac Escalades, Lexuses and other high-priced vehicles attempting to dart into rarely vacated parking spaces, and sometimes circling the neighborhood doing this. All of this happens while there is a large, multistory parking ramp with entrances on Hodge, Elmwood and West Utica Street, with the maximum daily charge of $3.75, as well as designated, permit-only lots for at least some doctors.
It has gotten so bad that several residents along these streets stand outside or at their windows to make sure no one parks across their driveway entrances.