Complaints to the city’s 311 line about blocked bike or transit lanes that endanger pedestrians and people on bikes are frequently closed without resolution.
An analysis of over 500 illegal parking complaints submitted to New York City’s 311 service reveals “inconsistent, and in some cases non-existent” enforcement for safety-related violations.
As David Meyer explains in Streetsblog NYC, these include blocked bike lanes and fire hydrants. NYPD issued just 16 tickets after investigating 558 complaints, a rate almost four times smaller than the overall ticket issuance rate for 311. “Despite the slew of complaints, many locations saw hours of rampant illegal parking, often by delivery trucks turning travel lanes and no parking zones into ‘mobile logistics hubs’ and ‘de facto parking lots.’”
According to the researchers who conducted the study, “The high rate of complaints closed while illegal parking was still occurring, combined with the low rate of ticket issuance, suggests a systemic failure in addressing this issue.”
The findings indicate a lack of concern for the safety issues posed by illegal parking. “In some cases, police have actually harassed and threatened members of the public for submitting complaints about illegal parking to 311.”
FULL STORY: Study Exposes NYPD’s ‘Systemic Failure’ To Enforce Safety-Related Parking Violations
NYC Sees 127 Traffic Deaths in First Half of 2024
The number is the highest since the city pledged to end traffic deaths through Vision Zero policies a decade ago.
NYC Officials Split on Jaywalking Decriminalization
While some council members say the ‘outdated’ practice disproportionately impacts Black and Latino residents, law enforcement officials say its a necessary measure for road safety.
NYC Speed Cameras Tricked by Souvenir License Plates
A new way to skirt the city’s speeding laws: novelty license plates.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.
Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.
Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service