Odd-Even & Same Side Parking Goes Into Effect Tonight at 1 AM

Two weeks ago, I Paul Revere'd this bit of info… “Winter Parking Restrictions are coming, Winter Parking Restrictions are coming!”

Guess what? Tonight... Well, technically tomorrow morning… but at 1 AM tonight, while you’re sleeping, it becomes seasonal law that you have to abide by the Odd-Even or Same-Side parking on over 90 miles of city streets in Grand Rapids.

So tonight when you get home from Trick or Treating, you should park on the ODD side of the street because tomorrow will be November 1st.

According to the city, the Odd-Even parking works like this:

Odd-Even parking restrictions mean that, on each even-numbered day, starting at 1 a.m. and until 6 p.m., parking is prohibited on the odd-numbered side of the street. On each odd-numbered day, starting at 1 a.m. and until 6 p.m., parking is prohibited on the even-numbered side of the street.

 

From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., the next day parking is PERMITTED on both sides of the street unless signs restrict parking.

 

Same Side parking restrictions require that residents only park on a designated side of the street from Nov. 1 to April 1. On some of the narrowest of streets, parking may not be allowed at all.

So why do we have to follow the parking rules when there’s no snow? From that same city webpage: 

This practice allows for removal of debris and snow plowing and helps to keep one lane of traffic open and available for emergency and public service vehicles.

What debris?  They sweep the streets for leaves a few times before it starts snowing.  Although I still think you have two weeks enforced to get the leaves, and then enforce it only during snowy times and make the ticket pricier.

Currently, if you violate the Odd-Even or Same Side Parking, you’ll receive a $20 ticket.  Police also say they will enforce with snow on the ground or not.