I don't own a car for precisely for the reasons already stated here -- cost of ownership is higher than judicious use of car services and rentals. But I've often thought about getting one. Why?

Renting cars SUCKS. The availability sucks on weekends and holidays. The price gouging sucks ($120/day?? that's half a monthly payment). The fact that it takes the clerks 30 minutes of pecking at the computer to process the reservation sucks. The fact that having a reservation doesn't actually guarantee you a car -- that really sucks. The fact that liability insurance costs $13/day sucks. The fact that Enterprise (otherwise one of the more affordable options) has hours that only make two-day weekend rentals possible sucks. The fact that you can't return cars after business hours sucks.

Perhaps more people could be persuaded to give up car ownership if weekend car rental was a more pleasant, more consumer-friendly, more viable option. There's a business opportunity in here somewhere. (And, no, zipcar is not the answer. Their piss-poor liability insurance means drivers assume great risk, and they're always booked on weekends anyway.)

"The only solution is neighborhood parking permits, like those used in Jersey City, Hoboken, Boston, Cambridge and other cities."

So true. I had a car in Cambridge and it really wasn't that big a deal - I did street parking the entire time and occasionally had trouble finding a spot, but nothing like 30 or 45 minutes worth of driving around. Sure, if you're trying to find a spot in Harvard Square it's a nightmare, but generally it wasn't that bad. Cambridge is pretty densely populated, too - not sure if it's as dense as Park Slope, but it's certainly not suburban.

Bunch of car hoes ! Try walking for a change BITCHES!!!!!!!

The parking issue throughout the city is worsened by the tourist visiting . Although the pic tells another story here . Most drivers have no real clue as to how to drive in the first place ! There's a reason the drivers ed instructor told you that when you park leave yourself room at both ends ! That pic is one of the main reasons why the parking sucks ! Another reason would be that drivers are just to damn lazy to accept having been beaten out of all the best parking and refuse to park there cars a little further from home . I've seen drivers squeeze into spaces not big enough for compact cars ! On my block I have a driveway that I can't use because stupid people park their cars in the path . Having there cars towed is fun and all but that takes time . I love the visitors from other neighborhoods that try this trick parking there cars in my path and going off to finish business. LOL, If I'm home I just call the most expensive tow company I know (And the one with a lot up in the Bronx by the Hutch) too tow those bitches away . Then watch as they stand their scratching their heads wondering if they parked there or elsewhere . CLASSIC!!!

While Park Slope is a horrible place to try to find parking, I still say that Midtown Manhattan on a weekday is the absolute worst. The important thing is to know not just where, but when you can park. Knowing in advance not only gives one the chance to be there at the right time (even if that means that the right time is 20 minutes before a street becomes legal for parking) but also lets one avoid the streets you where drivers may never park. By avoiding these, motorists save not just precious time but also money, because they are using less gas and reducing the wear and tear on their vehicle. Perhaps most importantly, it helps people reduce their stress levels, because all that random circling for a parking spot is a major contributor to aggravation

So do a little advance planning, it pays off in the end.

Hey Ed (#30):

Is it really that hard to walk from 1st ave in Manhattan to the Lexington ave line? Granted it's a little far in the LES, and maybe the 1/2/3 and A/C/E lines are a bit of a walk from far-west Chelsea, but I'm sure 90% of the people who regularly need to come to and from these neighborhoods can handle a 15 minute walk. For the rest of them, like the elderly or handicapped people (who typically have trouble with the subways anyway), there are cabs and buses.

I live in Harlem and I keep a car in the city for part of year when I need to take a lot of out-of-town trips. I like cars, but anyone who regularly uses one to drive within the congested parts of the city is screwing everyone else.

I'm consistently amazed at how many new yorkers have never taken a bus.

The solution is neither big parking lots (that would encourage more cars) or neighborhood parking (if you've ever lived with this, you know it's the worst... suddenly you can't take your car anywhere else...

Your neighborhood will change. It will likely grow. Encourage more public transportation and less cars. It works.

blah blah blah...hipsters suck...blah blah blah.

There are parts of the city where you definitely need a car. No additions have been made to the subway system since the 1930s, and parts of it (the 3rd Avenue el) have even been dismantled. If you live in a part of the city developed post World War II, which includes about half of Queens, you need a car. People living on the two avenues closest to the rivers in Manhattan need cars, those areas are just not well served by public transportation.

If you live in Park Slope, no you don't need a car (though there are some people with odd commutes that are exceptions). If you can afford to have one for occasional trips out of town, you can probably afford to keep it in a garage.

I'm not a driver, but one thing I've noticed with drivers is that they always forget to add in the time it takes to walk to the car, start it, pull out, and later circle around and find a parking spot to their calculations of driving time. When you added all that in, the time saved by driving often vanishes.

I agree with Okki's post at the start of the comments about pedestrians waiting in the street, and for pedestrians I also recommend Larry Littlefield's post on Room Eight about how its safer for pedestrians to cross the street in the middle of the block, jaywalking laws be damned, as most car-pedestrian collisions are caused by drivers turning corners too quickly and not seeing the pedestrian waiting to cross.

The truth is, someone's gonna have to bite the bullet and get rid of their car, because there's not enough parking for everyone in the Slope. You can close your eyes and plug your ears and sing "la la la la" all you want. But you can't change the laws of physics. Sometimes life is harder than shopping on Long Island.

Well the citizens of Park Slope have gotten their panties in a bunch and are complaining about everything, from real estate prices to overcrowded parking conditions for their SUV's and buggaboos. They evidently wanted to move into this trendy burg didn't do the copious research (looking at the street) before moving in to realize that "parking was tight". Now they are exploring "resident permits" to soothe them. On NY1 they interviewed Ms. Sloper who complained that after dropping her kids off at school, she had to circle for 2 hours to find a spot. Duhhhhh why not walk and stop polluting the air........

Vermont has some space and from what I hear, will put up with your self-centered, self-indulgent whining and your pudgy offspring.

little known fact. there has been a mortatorium on the building of parking garages in nyc since 1978. they paved over the parking lots and put up paradise.

Nah, you OK famdoc,

you're not a PKK.

though I am questioning your point number one of other drivers coming to the Slope hogging up spaces.

What's there? Me being a brooklyn novice.

OH, got it now, you wrote coming from other parts of Brooklyn where people are more apt to have a car.

So it's intra borough cars thats the problem ,not say, the bridge and tunnel cars.

I own a car and live in the Center Slope area. I have street-parked for fifteen years. I use my car on weekends and more the car once a week.

Two points (I'm sure, judging from the comments above, I'm going to be flamed for being a car-owner):

1--There is no good reason for anyone to drive their car on Seventh Ave., particularly on weekends. The Avenue is congested with pedestrians and their strollers. It is not uncommon to see several cars double parked on each block, making driving, and crossing, even more hazardous.

Most of the drivers on Seventh Ave. (and this is where I think I'm leaving myself open to be flamed) come to the Slope from other neighborhoods. They should consider other methods of transportation.

2--When I move my car on Thursday or Friday, I move it to the North side of Union St., where Monday/Tuesday regulations are in effect. Until about six months ago, I could reasonably expect to find a spot (at 8 AM) in five minutes or less. Now, I search for a spot for thirty to forty-five minutes. The only explanation for this is an increased number of cars in this section of the Slope. Most belong to the many people who have moved into the Fourth to Sixth Ave. corridor (thousands of new housing units in the past two years) and many belong to commuters who drive from other parts of Brooklyn and use the subway from the Slope.

The only solution is neighborhood parking permits, like those used in Jersey City, Hoboken, Boston, Cambridge and other cities.

Hey, the post button failed. So sue me. It failed again posting this. So what? Read it twice because apparently you need to.

You're ignoring the fact that you misread my first post, flamed me like an idiot for something I didn't say, and then ignored me again when I called you on it. THAT'S what I got, dummy.

People get so up in arms about cars in nyc. Lets face it people, Park Slope is just about the damn suburbs--people have cars. Get over it. People want to go to Fairway, etc. If you don't like residents driving cars, move to midtown. Cars didn't just come to Park Slope, or NYC.

Having said that, I actually find parking a lot easier in Park Slope than where lived before in Morningside Heights or the UWS.

Spuds,

If all you've got is the tired "I've lived in nyc my whole life" comeback and a "garage door opener", i think i'm doing pretty well. considering i've only been here HALF my life (who cares)?!

PS

learn how to use a SUBMIT button

In Clinton Hill, there is ALWAYS a spot right in front of our brownstone. If you choose to live in a more densely populated, "higher income" neighborhood then you will have to deal with more cars parked on the street. I hate running errands in Park Slope and so we always take the train, bus or walk to get there, although I understand why people need cars.

I really don't understand how the city can minimize the traffic problem in Park Slope aside from limiting the number of cars or creating free parking lots (Hahahhaah...yeah riiiiight)!

(2nd attempt to post as the first got locked up)

HAHAHAAHAHAAH!!!!! Jeez, and leave people like you behind forever? How could I do that?

I'm not accusing anyone of being anti-freedom, genius. Did you fail reading comprehension? I was just responding to the guy who said that cars limit your freedom. In fact, my car EXPANDS my freedom.

I like visiting the suburbs but I don't want to live there. I'm the rare example of someone who was born in Bklyn and have lived in NYC my whole life. YOU move out.

BTW, when I get home all I'm going to do is press the button on my garage door opener, the door's going to swing wide open and I'm going to drive in and park in my private, reserved spot. Sucker.

HAHAHAAHAHAAH!!!!! Jeez, and leave people like you behind forever? How could I do that?

I'm not accusing anyone of being anti-freedom, genius. I was just responding to the guy who said that cars limit your freedom. In fact, my car EXPANDS my freedom.

I was born in Bklyn and have lived in NYC my whole life. YOU move out.