Please Don't Park Here.

So far it has been the 4th snowiest winter in history of Pittsburgh with about 76.5 inches. That is a lot for a city with narrow streets and houses without driveways and garages. The city has started to crack down on the condition of the sidewalks. You are supposed to clear the sidewalks in front of your house within 24 hours of the storm....we are approaching 24 days after the storm. It has been fun seeing the streets full of people walking, but I can't wait for the sidewalks to be cleared so I don't have to share the crowded streets.

It has been interesting to watch people's behavior in these 'extreme' conditions. To a normal person the streets probably look like they are full of trash, but to the experienced eye it is a territorial statement. If you have a random item like old lawn chairs, desks, stools, ladders, etc... out in the street you have staked your claim and that part of the street automatically becomes a temporary extension of your property. I've come to call these snow garages. I took some pictures today while I was out walking with Sharon. Unfortunately the warmer weather has diminished how impressive and how critical these were at the height of the snow storm. I admit I can understand what people are thinking and feeling, I spent a lot of time digging our car and the neighbor's car out, but I never felt I needed to stake my claim.

The wooden chair has the sign above taped to it( It's to bad they had it on the sidewalk instead of in their spot). In the foreground you can see a nice "snow garage" with an old lawn chair in it. You would park in it as if you were parallel parking, it's actually good practice.

Here are some nice stools holding a nice big place. In the background you can see chairs, dust pans, a desk, and a recycle bin holding the curb spots in front of a house, they don't even have snow there anymore.

Some people parked in their garage.

Anyway life is picking up again in Pittsburgh. We'll miss the pretty part of the snow and the adventure it brought, but are looking forward to the beautiful blooming spring.