Halifax, NS – Back in the day and perhaps based on class demographics at the time, Halifax developers and planners did not include driveways next to or close to homes in Halifax’s North end neighbourhooods. Today, this is often seen as an attribute of the neighbourhood character, with it’s narrow streets and parking on both sides. For car owners, today however, that are forced to commute to work, the HRM Winter Parking ban forces many HRM residents to struggle with the logistics as well as the finances to pay to park their car in their neighbourhood or pay HRM the consequences.
According to Councillor, Dawn Sloane, the parking ban is not necessary. CBC reported on January 14, 2011 that “Residents and some politicians, including Coun. Dawn Sloane, have complained that the overnight ban is in effect even when there’s no snow.” And, furthermore: “Since the ban went into effect on Dec. 15, the city has given out 3,484 tickets to cars parked on the street between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. — an average of about 112 a night.” From this angle, the HRM Winter Parking Ban sounds more like an HRM money maker.
Troy Arsenault, booking manager at Downtown Halifax’s legendary bar, the Seahorse Tavern, has put together an event called “The Parking Ban Stand” that will allow car owners an opportunity to convene and figure out strategies to deal with the HRM Winter Parking Ban that took affect December 15, 2010 in HRM. Arsenault hopes that people will sign a petition and write down possible solutions to be collected in a ballot box. He further invites musicians, artists and comedians to perform at the event to help protest and maybe rally people to put the pedal to the metal? In an effort to challenge HRM on their Winter Parking Ban.
WHAT: The Parking Ban Stand
WHEN: Wednesday, January 19th, 8pm
WHERE: Seahorse Tavern, Halifax, NS
HOW MUCH: Free
To participate or for more information, contact the Seahorse; to read more about Arsenault’s position, visit The Coast.
photo by DrWatts, member of Spacing Atlantic flickr pool.