Last Updated on August 30, 2023 by Lawrence Berezin
[Beautiful Map Artwork designed by Ramilmall. Made by Zazzle Art in Reno, NV.]. The blue “PINS” are mine.
What are loading zone nightmares?
The NYC Department of Transportation (“DOT”) needs your help identifying parking areas where trucks and delivery vehicles create loading zone nightmares by blockading your parking spaces.
“We want New Yorkers to help us pin down double parking and blocked bus and bike lanes across our city,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Our new web platform will empower New Yorkers to join the conversation about where problems exist and where we can build new loading zones across the five boroughs.”
Why does the DOT need our help ending loading zone nightmares?
Local Law 168 of 2021 requires NYC DOT to consider local input from community boards, elected officials, and the general public when locating new loading zones. This portal will provide an additional avenue for gathering direct public feedback.
That’s it?
Nope, There’s more:
“The platform lets users place a pin on a map to identify loading zone nightmare problem areas and to add comments. Users can report areas that commonly involve the loading and unloading of passengers and goods. NYC DOT will use this information, along with other data and considerations, to determine where additional loading zones should be located citywide. As of March 2023, NYC DOT has installed over 2,000 loading zones since December 24, 2021, and will add at least 500 new loading zones per year in 2023 and 2024 on a rolling basis.
The launch of this new web platform follows NYC DOT’s recent announcement that it will begin a local delivery hub pilot program this summer to reduce the negative environmental and safety effects of truck deliveries.
The local delivery hubs, known as microhubs, will provide designated curbside or off-street locations for delivery trucks to unload items onto smaller, lower-emissions vehicles or human-powered modes of transportation like cargo bikes and hand carts for the final leg of deliveries. NYC DOT will launch up to 20 local delivery hub sites as part of the pilot program.”
O.K., you have my attention.
How to use the map
Step-by-step instructions about how to share your comments and send a “PIN” to the DOT about those frustrating loading zone nightmares.
ABC News Report
Read more about the project.
Commentary
If you experience one of those unexpected loading zone nightmares, do something about it by sending a “PIN” to the Department of Transportation. Likewise, I am optimistic that your input will be helpful in solving this type of parking challenge.
Meanwhile, here’s my story. I was legally parked in downtown Seattle, waiting for my wife to finish an errand in a nearby store. Suddenly, I was awakened from my reverie by a large box truck pulling alongside my car. The driver stopped the truck, totally blocking my escape, and started to unload. Shortly after, two other trucks double-parked in front of the first truck blocking 5 other cars parked at the curb.
This was an offensive line Giant fans would be proud of.
Fortunately, the offending truck blocking my car finished its delivery before my wife returned. I immediately vacated the parking space and started circling the block while my wife finished shopping.
Sadly, Seattle does not have a way to communicate and help correct this type of loading zone nightmare. But NYC does.
Let’s take advantage of it and send a “PIN” to the DOT.
This is a 5-year old program based on the 2018 copyright date, hardly new.
NYC database of ‘Neighborhood Loading Zones’ updated frequently –
https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Transportation/Neighborhood-Loading-Zone-signs-locations-NYCDOT/6pjf-tf5u
Hi nhu,
Good afternoon.
Thanks for taking your valuable time to comment, nhu. I appreciate it.
Meanwhile, I am not referring to the “Neighborhood Loading Zones” that I previously wrote about.
This blog post is about the DOT asking drivers to offer feedback about loading zone nightmares. The portal recently went live on Monday, May 1, 2023.
Why wouldn’t / shouldn’t a ticket be generated? It’s not like the driver has to pay it. The companies pay it, and they are the ones benefitting from the double parking!
Hi Mr. S,
Always great to hear from you and your great comments.
Good thought.
However, the purpose of this particular new platform is to solicit comments from drivers to help the DOT figure out strategies to ease the pain of truck blockards. In other words, they want to encourage engagement without the threat of ticket vigilantism. Hopefully, the DOT will really follow through.
Be well.
Regards,
Larry
Why I can’t beat a commercial double pk ticket. Aj say that I need to prove that I was at my truck at the time of the ticket. How?
Hi Willie,
Good afternoon.
Meanwhile, I thought your burden of proof was to persuade the judge that you were making a delivery or service call.
Did your vehicle have a “lift?” Was the “lift” lowered? And finally what parking violation were you charged with?
Looking forward to your reply.
Regards,
Larry
thank you for your response. To answer your question. It was code 46 Double park and no lift on my truck. I send my receipt and how long i was there, basically the same testimony i use for 8 years and always dismissed . The ALJ response was Guilty because “no proof submitted that vehicle was not left unattended and was being unloaded at the time of the summons insurance.” i don’t even know what that means. The was doing A EXPEDITIOUS delivery at the time i was summons. If i was in my truck i will not get a ticket. Mr Berezin , i appealed and the appeal was affirmed. Did something change at the DOF that we need to know?. i cant dismissed not one double pk ticket. This is happening to a lot of drivers. WHY? help please. reply
Hi Willie,
Good afternoon.
Your question and rapid reply prompted me to do some research on the double parking rule, 4-08(f)(1). And, there has been some significant changes (adopted 2020).
Firstly, here’s the current rule with the changes adopted in 2020.
(f) General no standing zones (standing and parking prohibited in specified places). No person shall stand or park a vehicle in any of the following places, unless otherwise indicated by posted signs, markings or other traffic control devices, or at the direction of a law enforcement officer:
(1) Double parking. On the roadway side of a vehicle stopped, standing, or parked at the curb,
except a person may stand a commercial vehicle alongside a vehicle parked at the curb at such locations and during such hours that stopping, standing, or parking is not prohibited,
for no more than 20 minutes, while actively engaged in loading or unloading goods, tools, materials, or other items for the purpose of making pickups, deliveries or service calls,
provided that there is no unoccupied parking space or designated loading zone on the same side of the street within the same block that can be used for such standing,
and provided further that such standing is in compliance with the provisions of §1102 of the State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
A person may stand a commercial vehicle along the roadway side of a bicycle lane provided all other conditions of this paragraph are met.
No person shall double park a commercial vehicle when it blocks the only lane of travel in the same direction. No person shall stand, stop or park a vehicle on a street at any time in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave fewer than 10 feet of roadway width available for the free movement of vehicular traffic.
No person may stand a commercial vehicle in or along the roadway side of a bus lane, unless otherwise indicated by posted signs, markings or other traffic control devices, or at the direction of a law enforcement officer or other person authorized to enforce this rule.
Next, here’s some analysis of the changes:
-The old rule allows truckers to double-park “while expeditiously making pickups, deliveries or service calls.” The new law says truckers can double-park “for no more than 20 minutes while actively engaged in loading or unloading goods, tools, materials, or other items for the purpose of making pickups, deliveries or service calls.”
-The old rule had no language about trucks that block roadways. The new law makes it clear: “No person shall double-park a commercial vehicle when it blocks the only lane of travel in the same direction. No person shall stand, stop or park a vehicle on a street at any time in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave fewer than 10 feet of roadway width available for the free movement of vehicular traffic.”
-The old rule bars commercial double-parking in a Midtown zone bordered by 14th Street, First Avenue, 60th Street and Eighth Avenue. The new rule expands the zone all the way to 12th Avenue. As now, the new rule allows double-parking on Sundays. (See map below.)
-The old rule would allow a vehicle or “combination of vehicles” to double-park in Midtown if they were making “expeditious” deliveries. The new rule takes out the permission for companies to use multiple vehicles and also reiterates that the delivery workers must be “actively engaged in loading or unloading goods, tools, materials, or other items for the purpose.”
Here’s a tweet from the DOT about the new rule:
Here’s a linke to the Notice of Adoption of the revised no standing rule
Willie, I don’t fight commercial parking tickets so I don’t know what proof you’ll need to beat these evil double parking tickets. You may wish to reach out to my old partner, Dan, as seek his help fighting these stupid things.
Hope this helps!
Thank but how can I be at my truck while im engaged in a delivery? The judge say the I can’t leave the truck alone. I just don’t understand
Williw,
I would contact Dan. He fights commercial parking tickets and would know the latest.
Meanwhile, I don’t guarantee my interpretation, but here it is:
-A warrior sees your truck without seeing you or any person associated with your truck.
-The warrior doesn’t know how long you were parked.
-Therefore, the warrior will probably issue a ticket and let you prove that you completed the delivery within 20 minutes.
-It’s the warrior’s way of taking your money.
Did you prove that you were only parked for less than 20 minutes? If not, then that’s probably why the appeals panel affirmed the judge’s bad decision.
I believe the judge erred by stating that you have to be standing by your truck. But, you may have to prove that the entire delivery took less than 20 minutes.
Again, to get a current analysis I would contact Dan. Or, someone you know who fights commercial vehicle parking tickets.
Please let me know the outcome.
Regards,
Larry
thanks for the research. nowhere on that research say that i have stay near my truck while doing a delivery. so why did they ticket me for that. im so confused. thank you Sir
Hi Willie,
Most judge’s do the right thing when making a decision on a parking ticket. However, there are rogue judge’s that make up reasons or misinterpret the rules to find you guilty. Sadly, this happens more than it should.
Please don’t get hung up on what this rogue judge did. I would find out how to prevent this from happening in the future by learning the best way to beat a double parking ticket.
I’m really sorry to learn about this abuse. But, use it as motivation to beat the next ticket.
Good luck, Mr. Willie.
Regards,
Larry
thank you