At the corner of Delaware Ave and Mt. Hermon Way. July 8, 2016. Blogfinger photo
Here is a solution to parking problems in OG; it’s been suggested before—-sell your car. Just call the “I Buy Cars.” guys (see photo above.) They will give you cash.
Many of our visitors and residents come from NYC and take the train to the Grove, like visitors from the last century. But some of them leave a car here–warehousing it until they show up. Is there something wrong with that? Of course not, but it is another way that car density builds up here. We can also point to those who keep commercial vehicles on these narrow streets such as vans, large pickup trucks or other kinds of trucks. Should the town ban such commercial vehicles from spending nights here?
As for the Sleepys truck, it came for a delivery, stopped in the middle of the street, briefly clashed with the “I Buy Cars” truck and then went on its way. (i.e. no harm, no foul) —-PG
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN:
As if we do not already have a huge problem with space for parking…the township wants residents to put their recycling cans far enough out into the street so the workers can see them, otherwise the bulk, etc. will not be picked up. I read about this yesterday on an OG forum…a resident called the township to complain about her cans being passed by twice in the same month. The clerk responded with this very “intelligent” solution.
Hi Lisa. Thank you for your participation on Blogfinger. This post is basically about parking, but a debate on tourism is important. You are right about what tourists give, but whom does that benefit? It goes to my question, “Whom is this town for?”
I don’t think that attracting more tourists will help our parking problems. We need to also promote the life of the town for those who live here.
Personally I would rather see the Grove continue to be more like small town America. However, I do acknowledge the history of Ocean Grove which has been about tourism since its founding, although that was based mostly on its religious life, which continues today and is one of the ingredients that makes OG fascinating and desirable. And the CMA gives back to the community in a powerful way and they must be recognized for that, and those beach badges help pay for the beach activities which benefit all of us, so they are a special exception.
But the commercialism occurring now with more density seems more like Asbury Park and will worsen the parking situation. Is that what the residents of 2016 want? —–Paul
Blogfinger,
I think you misunderstand me. I am all for more community, but I also feel that any town at the Jersey shore is a haven for tourism. The people that come here buy beach badges and shop in town and eat in our restaurants. That is how they give back. And when they go home, they tell others about the great little town they found at the Jersey shore. I know this is true because my friends and relatives have done it. In fact, that’s how I found this place myself.
As for community building, you surely don’t do it by threatening your own neighbors and “marking your territory” with cones in front of your home.
Lisa: You are very protective of the tourists, but this is a “tourist town” only if we allow that to continue. It’s not tourists that make Ocean Grove come alive. It is the town itself and the people who live here. Tourists use us and give nothing back.
We should promote more community and less tourism. As for our “quaint” downtown, that place needs more services that are for those who reside here. Take a look at the downtown in Pt. Pleasant—-it is almost all the kinds of businesses that a town needs, not shops that offer gizmos, T shirts and restaurant food to tourists as we have on Main Avenue.
Dave: Citations are not given now, because there is no law against these “scams.” I mentioned citations as something that would create a deterrent for such behavior, but it would be hard to draw up an ordinance because there are a variety of such maneuvers. Maybe start by banning cones (or whatever) to save a space.
Thanks for posting Paul. I doubt citations are ever given, unless someone were to call the police and specifically ask them to do so in some of these specific instances.
Furthermore to my observation, I checked out these two motorized scooters up close. Appears that both have expired registrations and are mostly covered by a bike cover. These people are intentionally using these bikes as props to save themselves parking spots. Scammers.
I am sitting here on my front porch watching the continuously rotated parking cones that save parking spaces on the first block of Mt Hermon Way. I think people have forgotten that we are a”tourist” town. If we chase away every person who comes here for our beautiful beaches or our quaint downtown, what do we become?
I literally just witnessed one neighbor chase another neighbor away from their “personal” spot. Doesn’t sound so “neighborly”, does it? When I bought my house here 13 years ago, I bought it because the town and the people were so warm and friendly. Most still are. But I don’t think anywhere in my land lease there is a clause about parking in front of your house. I can assure you, I pay a LOT of taxes, but I still don’t own the street.
June, July, August construction ban. No construction vehicles, dumpsters, pods, etc left on streets. No commercial vehicles, lettered vans and pickups with advertising or company names parked anywhere outside of the commercial area, never on residential streets. This also applies to over-sized vehicles of any kind. Other towns do it, legally by the way, why not here? It can at least be a starting point.
Dave:
Well, on the supply side of the equation, this would be Grovers intentionally reducing space availability. It should result in a citation. Saved spaces have value–the currency is comfort and convenience, beyond being deprived of somewhere to plant your car. That is why such behavior should be discouraged. No one should deprive their neighbors of those valued variables.
I knew a Grover who routinely parked her car in a way that took up 2 spaces. What was especially galling was that the extra space was not being saved for anyone in particular. It was just in case somebody (eg a relative) decided to show up. These small examples of selfishness can add up.
No saving of spaces should be tolerated if a code of parking behavior is ever established. ——PG
Here’s another parking scam I’ve noticed along Main Avenue. At least three people roll out covered scooters into a street parking space, to hold it for themselves, for when they return. Upon returning, they roll the scooter out of the way and get back into the space they saved for themself. Selfish scammers. Can’t walk a few blocks, I guess? They believe they are better than the rest of us and need to hold a space for themselves? Scammers. Tired of them.