Crammed parking illustration by the OGHOA.
We have complained on Blogfinger regarding the 10 mega-congestion, parking-mayhem, giant-events in this small town each season. We have pointed out all the consequences of these events especially as to how they affect the quality of life for residents.
But this Groaner email advisory illustrates a couple of additional points that adds to the crowding, at least for the flea and craft markets, including the removal of some normal parking spaces and their unavailability from 9 pm Friday to 6 pm Saturday. (or is it 11 p.m.?)
So it is not only the increase in parkers, but it also includes a decrease in parking spaces.
Neptune township advises that “no parking will be allowed in the area and during the time (Flea Market Time”) noted below:
Where:
A. Ocean Pathway, eastbound (both sides) and westbound (both sides.)
B. Beach Avenue (both sides) between Ocean Pathway eastbound and Ocean Pathway westbound.
C. Central Avenue (both sides) between Ocean Pathway and McClintock Street.
When: From 9:00 p.m. Friday, September 6 to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, September 7 11:00 p.m. (Got that?)
Just read the “When” line carefully. This is not the first time that they have gotten calendar items wrong!
Also, if you don’t know, the “Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to offer offsite parking and a complimentary shuttle service to our visitors” for this event. Their mailing tells us that the Flea Market will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “from the Great Auditorium to the Ocean. Rain or shine.”
It is interesting to consider whether this shuttle service will reduce the congestion inside the Grove. Most likely it will increase the number of shoppers, because the shuttle will not cause there to be more parking spaces in town. This is just a gimmick to make the flea market even more crowded than it normally is. After all, this flea market attracts huge throngs of tourists and their cars.
And those who read the newspaper ads may come in increased numbers because of the off site parking, but the advantage will be limited to maybe a few hundred and then the mob scene will resume as usual, and many will be disappointed as they circle the town for parking.
And while we are on the subject of parking, what do you think of this photo taken on Main Avenue on Wednesday morning, beach block?: Click to enlarge.
Motor scooters on Main. Is this a technique to save spaces or is this just a trio of scooter parkers? We have been told that some individuals use scooters to save spaces. Blogfinger photo Sept 4, 2019
SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE POOR FOOLS (“Songs from the Barn..”)
Scooters that are registered are legally entitled to park in a space as any other registered motor vehice, be it a car, motorcycle, scooter or LSV ( A street legal golf cart, wait until those become popular in OG). Neptune has no ordinance that gives any kind of parking exception to a two wheel vehicle, so it’s treated like and must abide any parking law that applies to cars
I’ve seen as many as 5 scooters at once on the 1st beach block on Main. 2nd beach block/Main also has a few.
They are unmoved all week long so the owners can save a place for the weekend. It’s just wrong on so many levels.
The use of parking for motorcycles and such is illegal in almost every city I visit. Usually a designated spot, often next to a yellow painted corner, is allocated to them.
If a cycle rider can’t walk a block or two they certainly can’t ride the bike. Just another example of Neptune not even attempting to fix parking.
Only a matter of time before scooters, saw horses, garbage cans etc result in a brawl.