"That sign doesn't apply to me because I'm seeking profit" strikes again.
I've emailed in flagrante delicto photos of businesses flouting the law, but our business-owner city councilman (and now mayor) does not feel like holding business people to the same standards as poor people.
I've emailed the city about this phenomenon over and over. Today I'm finally cc'ing the League of American Bicyclists (who hand out the "Bike-Friendly" designation that City of Davis has), the city's Bicycling, Transportation & Street Safety Commission, and the local newspapers. I'm tired of them dicking around on this.
I've explicitly pointed out that businesses need to be held accountable for the behavior of their vendors and the wear-and-tear damage they're creating to public property.
@glightly I've been thinking about how to address this and other parking misdeeds in my city. Your methods seem more constructive than my current thoughts (shaming social media posts and "I park in the bike lane" stickers tagged on the vehicle...).
It really sucks, it's hard to rely on infrastructure that is essentially not there half the time.
@nix It has been effective in getting the parking patrol to temporarily beef up patrolling in this area they usually ignore.
We'll see if I can get them to get serious about a real solution. This is why I'm cc'ing LAB, and the local newspapers. It's too easy for city council members (who are usually business owners) to blow me off since I'm not arriving at city council mtgs with a posse to yell at them. I have to find other ways to apply pressure.
@glightly The temporary thing is better than nothing, but it sucks that it requires a lot of effort from you. And also means it's not happening in places where there's nobody as dedicated as you reporting it - or nobody that knows what authorities to talk to.
@glightly I read an anecdote recently about a city having an issue where a significant number of the streetlights were out in poorer neighborhoods, and luckily a local official cared enough to investigate why.
It turned out that the streetlight replacement process in the city was "wait until someone calls it in".
@glightly People in the wealthier neighborhoods were more likely to contact right away. People in poorer neighborhoods didn't, for various reasons (mistrust of officials, lack of time, low expectations of the city).
The solution was really as simple as starting to track the life expectancy of the bulbs and replace them when they reached end of life.
I take it as a good reminder that the right structures benefit everyone without requiring people that have the time/gumption to speak up.
@nix Yup. It shouldn't have to require residents to have to constantly be after their elected representatives.
Our backs are bowed under the weight of duties that politicians and corporations are ducking responsibility for. We have to do our own jobs, then get forced to do theirs as well.
@glightly Same overall corporation to blame here. They were already there blocking the way for cyclists & pedestrians when I rode around them at 11:30am and they were still blocking visibility and egress when I finished my shopping at 11:54am.
this is unfortunately too common. US planners generally don't plan for delivery vehicles in street design. but also, city officials do not regulate businesses. since the major cost of delivery is labor, instead of sending a bunch of smaller vehicles, they will send one massive truck to deliver a few crates of milk. it's stupid neoliberal cost cutting, yet again making everyone's life worse
100%. Even when they closed a couple blocks off to car traffic (which I'm in favor of), they not only didn't plan for accessibility, nor non-commercial uses of the space by the actual public, they didn't plan for cycle logistics for delivery.
These businesses predicate their business models on breaking the law and abusing public resources, expecting the public to pick up the tab.
Add comment