Dear Editor:

We can all agree that parking in Hoboken is a pain, but much more important than the inconvenience of not finding parking is the safety of ourselves, our families, and our neighbors. When it comes to parking in or within 25 feet of crosswalks, not only is this a violation of State law, it’s also a major safety hazard for pedestrians using those crosswalks. The reason is because a car parked too close to the crosswalk prevents drivers from seeing pedestrians entering the crosswalk, or other vehicles entering the intersection. Illegally parking in this way also prevents fire engines and other large emergency vehicles from making turns on our tight corners without impacting their response times or causing damage to vehicles. I agree it’s frustrating to get a ticket when there’s no parking to be found, but considering these locations as a parking option is a much bigger risk than just getting a ticket. So please, take the safety of our families, our neighbors, and ourselves into consideration, and don't park in or within 25 feet of crosswalks. As an additional reminder, parking in bus stops, fire zones, taxi stands, shuttle bus stands, or loading zones also poses a significant safety concern, since blocking these spaces potentially force designated activities to occur elsewhere.

Ian Sacs

P.E. Director, Transportation and Parking City of Hoboken