I’m usually one to complain about the lousy job of snow removal in the Breton Woods section of Brick. I agree with Glen Campbell that the main problem is the large number of cars parked in the streets. However, if you walk around the neighborhood, you will notice that most homes don’t have three cars as stated in the article, but have areas to park multiple cars off the street, yet they go underutilized or unused.
Why? Is it laziness or the attitude that “we have been doing it this way for years” a reason why so many people choose to park in the street? After all, it is much easier to leave a car in the street versus clearing out a parking area on your property.
For a number of years I lived in a Pennsylvania community that had little, if any, off-street parking. All cars were required to be removed from the street during major snow events, or face a hefty fine and/or be towed.
This allowed for wider sections of the street to be cleared. Sure it was a hassle, but once the plows went through, we drove right back and parked with ease. This law benefited everyone. If the cars were allowed to remain on the street, it would have looked like Breton Woods did after the plows came through with only one cleared lane.
Where do you park if you don’t have off-street parking? Make arrangements with a friend or neighbor who has extra space and even offer to help them clear that space. The township can cooperate with local business and property owners associations.
Leaving your vehicle on the street is not neighborly and affects everyone and hinders the workers who are trying to help clear the neighborhood streets. While some may balk at this change, in the long run it is the right thing to do.
I would strongly urge the mayor and town council to quickly move ahead with a regulation that would require cars to be taken off the streets during times of heavy snowfalls.
Kristopher Krenz
Brick