Both Minneapolis and St. Louis Park are asking residents to restrict parking to one side of city streets (the odd side, in the case of St. Louis Park) because the large amount of snow has made it difficult for large vehicles — such as fire trucks, ambulances, garbage trucks and plows — to pass. The only difference between the two cities' restrictions is that the ones in Minneapolis are mandatory and the ones in St. Louis Park are voluntary.
Really, St. Louis Park? Voluntary? Five days after the restrictions were announced, I was able to count 11 vehicles lining the even side of my block. On the odd side, where cars are supposed to be parked, there were five vehicles. In two spots, vehicles were directly across from each other, and cars navigating the street had only inches of clearance.
Make the restrictions mandatory. "Voluntary" is pointless.
