I'd Like One Accident To Go, Please! No, Make That Two!

Early on Friday evening while in the 7th Street Park, I noticed a line of four double parked cars (with an available space in the middle) in front of the Chinese takeout restaurant Food Sing -- definitely the most I've ever seen there at one time.  This was, of course, on a busy Warren Street between two busy -- and very close -- intersections, one being a turn in the truck route.  It was a mess for several minutes because of the narrowed road in the dark, with cars (some having just turned right off of Park Place) suddenly having to stop to let oncoming traffic pass.  An unnecessary, but common, crapshow, if you will. 

After a knock on the window, the owner of a properly parked but trapped car asked a double parker to move on.  Fortunately, someone was at the wheel and they complied!  And by the time just one double parked car remained, a large pickup truck double parked directly across the street from Food Sing, where the truck's passenger entered after crossing the street.  Those two double parked vehicles remained for at least 5 minutes before I gave up on witnessing an accident. There very easily could have been one, and the HPD accident reports I've seen indicate that accidents there are not uncommon, 711 Warren often being referenced.  Food Sing is 709 Warren.  The 3-way (with one stop sign) Park and Warren truck route intersection is difficult enough to navigate without double parked cars to contend with.  Let's see how much more dangerous we can make it! 

There is nothing preventing lines of double 
parked cars on both sides of Warren Street

With the exception of delivery vehicles, there shouldn't be any double parking allowed on Warren Street at any time -- not even for "just a minute" -- especially between 7th and Park.  The problem with double parked vehicles isn't just that they cause accidents, it's that they tend not to be the vehicles involved in those accidents.  Rather, they cause moving vehicles to collide.  Double parked vehicles also make things more dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists.  (Ever been doored?  I hope to never be so unfortunate!)

I don't think Police Commissioner Shane Bower cares about any of this.  And even if he did...