The recent NYC Parking Ticket Quiz Results are Shocking.

Last Updated on April 2, 2023 by Lawrence Berezin

Parking ticket quiz takeaways

The pedestrian ramp rule is still confusing NYC drivers. The first question on the recent 3-question parking ticket quiz was:

True or False? You can park in front of a mid-block pedestrian ramp as long as there is no marked crosswalk and no traffic signals or signs regulating traffic. 

The correct answer is “TRUE.” You are permitted to park in front of any mid-block pedestrian ramp without a marked crosswalk or any traffic control signs or devices regulating traffic.

50% of all respondents said, “FALSE.” Shocking!

The history of the pedestrian ramp rule

In the days of old, it was illegal to park in front of all pedestrian ramps. Period. In 2008, the NYC DOT had an epiphany. Why are we punishing the NYC driving community with a $165 parking fine for parking in front of a pedestrian ramp located in a ‘T’ intersection, without marked crosswalks, stop signs, or other traffic control devices regulating traffic? It is dangerous for anyone, let alone a person with disabilities, to cross the street at that location.

In December 2008 the pedestrian ramp rule was amended to permit parking in front of pedestrian ramps at this location. The big but was…the rule change was the best-kept secret in our fair city. The NYC DOT did not publish the rule change in the Highway and Traffic Rules. Parking ticket Warriors were issuing illegal pedestrian ramp tickets, and judges were finding drivers guilty!

Enter New York Parking Ticket LLC. I had a conversation with the DOT on Twitter and alerted them that their bad behavior was costing our NYC driving community beaucoup de bucks. The DOT officially amended the pedestrian ramp rule within 24 hours (I am sorry to report this nefarious practice of issuing illegal pedestrian ramp parking tickets is still happening).

As time goes by, the DOT had a second epiphany, and I verified it with the DOT on Twitter…it is legal to park in front of any mid-block pedestrian ramp (curb cut) without marked crosswalks, stop signs, or other traffic control devices regulating traffic. It is even more dangerous for a person in a wheelchair, or otherwise disabled, to cross in the middle of the block (would you allow your children to cross in the middle of the block?) Ergo, the DOT in its infinite wisdom declared all such ramps legal parking spaces.

Why is there still confusion?

Is it…

• Because there are still wonderful members of the NYC driving community living under a rock next to the GEICO guy?
• Or, because every person driving a vehicle in NYC has yet to be introduced to “Larry’s Blog?”
• Or, because after reading the applicable parking rules you are completely dumbfounded about their meaning.

I vote for #3.

Can you figure out what the heck the following inconsistent, painful Tower of Babel grouping of words mean:

• The Rule: Parking is prohibited…

“(7) Pedestrian ramps. Alongside or in a manner which obstructs a curb area which has been cut down, lowered or otherwise constructed or altered to provide access for persons with disabilities at a marked or unmarked crosswalk as defined in subdivision (b) of §4-01 of this chapter. A person may stop, stand or park a vehicle alongside or in a manner which obstructs a pedestrian ramp not located within such crosswalk unless otherwise prohibited.”

• The definition of “crosswalks”…

Crosswalk.
(i) Marked crosswalk. That part of a roadway defined by two parallel lines or highlighted by a pattern of lines (perpendicular, parallel or diagonal used either separately or in combination) that is intended to guide pedestrians into proper crossing paths.
(ii) Unmarked crosswalk. That part of a roadway, other than a marked crosswalk, which is included within the extensions of the sidewalk lines between opposite sides of the roadway at an intersection, provided that (A) the roadway crosses through the intersection rather than ending at the intersection, and/or (B) all traffic on the opposing roadway is controlled by a traffic control device.”

• The DOT website makes no mention of mid-block pedestrian ramps…

The areas circled in red in the diagram below are legal parking spots.

The New York City Traffic rules allow parking at some “T” intersections—those without traffic signals, all-way stop signs or crosswalk markings—even if there is a curb cut at that location.

Is a curb cut for a driveway a pedestrian ramp?

Commentary

Please, please take our short quizzes you’ll find on our Homepage and Blog. You can help me help youse guys by alerting me to your gaps in parking ticket knowledge.

The takeaway in this article is that the only illegal pedestrian ramp lives at 4-corner intersections or with marked crosswalks. You can park in front of mid-block, or T intersection ramps, AS LONG AS THERE ARE NO MARKED CROSSWALKS, STOP SIGNS, OR OTHER TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES REGULATING TRAFFIC.

Park safely.