SP Advisory Panel Considers Sites for Back-In Parking Trial
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Jayne Rhodes bared her soul Monday to the Southern Pines Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee because she feels that back-in angle parking could put her out of business.
“I wanted them to see it bared because I’m concerned,” said Rhodes, who owns Framer’s Cottage on Broad Street. “I spoke my heart. I just wanted to see if they understood that livelihoods were involved.”
The committee is considering potential sites for a demonstration project of back-in angle parking, which has existed for decades but has been implemented sporadically around the country. Charlotte and Cary are the only municipalities in North Carolina that currently have back-in angle parking on several streets.
So far, the committee is leaning toward recommending the 200 block of North West Broad Street in downtown Southern Pines, with its second choice being the same block of Broad on the other side of the railroad tracks. The final decision will be made by the Town Council.
“Every option has pluses and minuses,” said Dan Kohn, who chairs the committee. “I like the area around the train station because there are multiple options there.”
The committee eliminated a third option — New York Avenue between Broad and Bennett streets — because a plastic divider would have to be erected in the middle of the two-way street.
Kohn appeared before the Town Council last January to present the three options but was told to engage downtown Southern Pines merchants before making a recommendation.
If a site is selected by the council, the new parking spaces will jut out at an angle from the curb but will face away from oncoming motorists instead of toward them. As in parallel parking, drivers will signal, pass their spot and back in instead of entering front first.
The transition, if it occurs, will be aided by signs and other marking to clarify the appropriate use of back-in angle parking spaces.
Tony Grausso, owner of Seagrove Candle Co., said he planned to canvass the downtown merchants by the end of the week to get their opinions.
“I’m hesitant to even support a trial based on feedback I’ve received from my customers and fellow merchants, but I’m willing to go along with what the majority of the merchants agree to,” Grausso said.
He asked merchants in an email Tuesday to draft a brief statement about where they stand on the trial site, back-in parking in general and how it may impact their business and downtown.
“I just want a definitive public record that can’t be disputed by the committee or the Town Council,” Grausso said. “I’m hoping for 100 percent participation, whether the merchants are for it or against it.”
Grausso planned to begin collecting the statements Friday.
“This is an extremely important issue,” he said. “It’s a community issue. I want the end result to be positive for the merchants, the community and the committee.”
Bruce Bishop, president of the Southern Pines Business Association (SPBA), said he attended Monday’s meeting to gather information.
“The SPBA does not have an official stance on back-in angle parking,” Bishop said. “What we’re doing is disseminating information to our members and asking for their feedback. We’ll continue to keep them posted on developments regarding this issue. We hope they will use us as a conduit to provide feedback to the committee and the Town Council.”
Rhodes said she had nothing against improving safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists, but not at the expense of downtown merchants.
“We’re not talking about losing a customer or two,” she said. “We’re talking about people possibly losing their livelihoods. I think that would be a really sad thing to do to a thriving, wonderful little town. We have this treasure, and I think sometimes people don’t realize that.”
Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at tnatt@thepilot.com.
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Comments
theonewithsense 1 year, 2 months ago
So some idiot said, "Hey, I've got a great idea. Let's use back-up angled parking!"
The scary part is that some other idiot agreed.
DoubleHeroides 1 year, 2 months ago
I’d like to point out that a good sized employer in Moore County and within the jurisdiction of the Town of Southern Pines, the UPS Distribution Center (or whatever it is) off of U.S. 1 voluntarily, because they wanted to, installed back in angle parking for their employees and any customers that park in that area. That was who knows how long ago. Doesn’t seem to have put them out of business.
Further, seems like there is disconnection amongst the downtown merchants. Mr. Grausso is spearheading his own campaign to gather input from all the merchants to formulate a universal opinion, meanwhile Mr. Bishop, president of the Business Association for the town is gathering input as well.
And my final point: The new Harris Teeter in Southern Pines that was built up by the airport voluntarily, at no requirement or request by the Town, installed bike lanes and pedestrian friendly amenities. Why did they do that? Why would a business, especially one that has been around longer (as a corporation) and does more business than a lot of the businesses in downtown combined, volunteer to be pedestrian friendly while the downtown area is balking at a possible trial period change to a part of the downtown?
Matt_Woodruff 1 year, 2 months ago
I fail to understand how this is going to put merchants out of business. Which is safer? Backing into oncoming traffic that you can't see very well or backing into a space with nothing behind you to hit? Either way you still have to back up. Where this has been implemented traffic accidents and auto/bicycle accidents have decreased.
Mythreekids 1 year, 2 months ago
So, clarify for me please. The change would be the angle. Backing in versus driving in. This does not mean necessarily losing spaces? Will there remain spaces for parallel parking for those (young and old) who don't back in well? (My grandfather never masterd that). Not sure I understand how, if the same number of spaces remain, it would have an adverse effect on business unless the concern is the ability of people to back into a space. Thanks.
herecomesthescience 1 year, 2 months ago
Hands down the most moronic idea yet. I will avoid the downtown area like the plague if this comes to pass. This area has some of the worst, most oblivious and clueless drivers I have ever seen (I am from here, by the way, so no need for the "you dont like it, you can leave, Yankee" speaches), and it will be fender bender city. No thanks, I would rather just avoid the whole area, which is a shame because I love the places to eat and shop in the downtown area. People already can't figure out when to yield or stop on broad street, let alone how to back up into oncoming traffic to park. I was riding through there two days ago, and each car is about 2 feet from the back bumper of the car in front of them, especially when turning across the tracks and coming up on the cars already on Broad. How is a driver supposed to back up? Get out of the car and ask the 6 cars behind them to also back up??? Please. Factor in the elderly drivers that we have a large population of, and the morons who insist on yapping on the cell phone, or that are distracted by a car full of squirming kids and you have guaranteed wrecks daily. The only folks that will benefit from this change are the local body shops, and the traffic lawyers. Ugh.
fatboy 1 year, 2 months ago
I ride a motorcycle, and have for many years. I would rather take my chances on Broad St. the way that parking is now, being able to see someone's back-up lights, rather than having someone pull out of a parking space and T-bone me because they were looking down the street seeing a clear path. If this goes through, I won't be frequenting the merchants there anymore.
bettertimes 1 year, 2 months ago
You have to back in either way?? The difference is backing into a small space between cars (especially people with limited mobility of turning the head) and backing into a full sized road. Signs to guide people? There are signs now but people still drive the wrong way on Broad St and don't yield. Bike lane? How many bikers do you see constantly riding on Broad St? They meet at the bike shop and ride for 30 seconds down Broad St to go on their ride. UPS off US 1 installed back in parking? They are not on a small congested one way street. This is one of the most ridiculous, idiotic, and hazardous ideas I've ever heard. I'll be staying away from Broad St if this ever happens.
JER 1 year, 2 months ago
People, people, people!! The solution is so simple....and it will create new jobs. The answer to your objections is valet parking. Southern Pines is a suburb of Pinehurst, so it would make it the obvious solution. Valet Stations positioned strategically around sections of Broad Street will allow you to simply pull up, toss your keys to the parking valet, receive your claim check and be off to do your shopping, dining or a leisurely, stress free stroll around town.
dirtundermynails 1 year, 2 months ago
For the north side of Broad Street where angled parking is on the sidewalk side - how is backing a car towards a crowded sidewalk safer? Especially for large cars, SUV's and trucks with limited rear sight and the ability to easily hop the curb? How many parents will be grabbing their child in panic to avoid being hit by a tailpipe or rear bumper?
cantstandya 1 year, 2 months ago
When this is implemented ,if it is they could probably sell tickets to an audience wanting to watch as well as a camera to catch all the distruction being done to all the vehicles involved since many have never had to park this way it should prove to be quite the site to see.
buskwon 1 year, 2 months ago
At least there will be a bike lane , that way the SPPD can ride there bikes and write many many tickets from all the accidents this will cause,This will bring in much needed revenue for Southern Pines. Who thought of this brilliant idea?
cantstandya 1 year, 2 months ago
Why not build a parking deck behind the Town offices,it would eliminate the need for all the on street parking and still is within walking distance of most of the stores or would that distract from that old village appeal that downtown Southern Pines is wanting to keep.
SoPinesNo1 1 year, 2 months ago
I can see where this will likely fail. I've stopped to parallel park downtown and the car behind me pulls up too close for me to back in the parallel space. The same thing will happen when people try and back into a diagonal space. I see the main problem with bicycle traffic being the general public not aware that bicycles can legally use most roads in North Carolina. A driver must treat approaching a bicyclist just like it was any other vehicle on the road. The NC Driver's Handbook spells out the rules drivers should obey when passing bicyclists, just enforce them.
herecomesthescience 1 year, 2 months ago
Just a thought, any cyclist (I am one, by the way) can use either Bennett or Ash streets to get to just about any point downtown rather than using broad street to run the whole way. Simply use one of the parallel streets and then go down the nearest adjacent street that hits broad, like New Hampshire.
Bflat 1 year, 2 months ago
It's difficult to even pull forward into a space with all the traffic up on the bumper going down Broad St With all the confusion about who is to yield and crossing the tracks, back in parking will add yet another dimension to the problem. I will discontinue shopping and dining in downtown Southern Pines. Not long ago back in parking was considered and many comments posted on these threads were opposed by the majority. I thought it was a dead issues.........and now it is here again.
JustThinking 1 year, 2 months ago
Bikers and walkers.....just BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN SAFETY!! Leave it ! Where does this crazy mentality come from? Drivers be responsible or get a Ticket !