Drivers, start your engines — maybe for the first time in nearly a month.
The city’s alternate side parking rules go back into effect Thursday, Department of Transportation spokesperson Nick Benson said.
That means car owners will be required to move their cars out of the filth, dirt and grime — some might call it snow — to allow street sweepers to finally clean the road and vacuum up refuse. Alternate side parking has been suspended since Jan. 26, when New York City’s biggest snowstorm in at least a decade left more than a foot of snow piled on the streets, sidewalks, parks and plazas.
Drivers had to dig out of the snow following last month’s storm.
Liam Quigley
A prolonged cold snap followed, leaving many cars trapped in an icy tomb of dog turds and trash.
The snow hardened and became even nastier as sub-freezing temperatures persisted, creating a revolting scene. Cars parked off the curb or diagonally due to piles of snow only added to the sense of disorder.
The street sweepers will have their work cut out for them. Even as warmer weather has begun melting the snowy mix of litter and animal waste, lumps and piles in many shapes and sizes still remain on the roads.
This barely qualifies as snow at this point.
Ramsey Khalifeh
Alternate side rules were suspended this week due to several holidays, including Presidents Day, Lunar New Year, Ash Wednesday and Losar, the Tibetan New Year.
According to the DOT, this most recent stretch isn’t the longest suspension of alternate side parking. In 1978, alternate side was suspended for three months due to winter storms – though it’s unclear if that is the longest in history.
