PITTSBURGH -- Parking on the sidewalk is nothing new in Lawrenceville, but Pittsburgh police want the locals to kick that habit to the curb, and they're handing out dozens of tickets to prove it.
On the other side of the parking battle are the residents who told Team 4's Paul Van Osdol that if they don't park on the sidewalks, their cars pay the price from careless drivers on narrow streets.
"They were playing Russian roulette with my mirror. I lost, like, 10 of them," said Lawrenceville resident John Skladoski. "I've lived here 45 years. They've been parking on the sidewalks for 50 years and nothing happened."
How do you feel about sidewalk parking? We want to hear your comments. Please post them in the "Add your comment" box at the end of this story.
Fellow resident Mark Reichle has already received a ticket for $94.
"I've been parking like that for 20 years. Cars come flying down here, wreck into cars, hit five, six cars in a row, take mirrors off, wipe the sides out," said Reichle.
Not everyone is on the same side though.
Resident Dave Bell said sidewalk parkers lower property values.
"Back in the olden days, the cars were much bigger, right? Did they park on sidewalks? I don't think they did," said Bell.
The heated issue prompted a meeting with City Councilman Patrick Dowd and Pittsburgh police officials.
Both parties declined an interview request with WTAE Channel 4 Action News.
Copyright 2009 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
