There's a housing crisis in many cities. But cars can park free. Why not claim public street-space for those who need it? If you disguise your shelter as a polluting, duly-licensed private vehicle, like artist Michael Rakowitz did...
...the authorities should be fine with it.
More on this thought-provoking art project here:
In #Brussels, a couple turned street space in front of their apartment into garden, inviting neighbors to plant + harvest what they want.
When cops told them space was meant for cars, they put a license plate on it! They call it "Citizen Garden."
@batat @straphanger I totally understand where you're coming from, but the reason for cars being treated differently is obvious, in my opinion.
Streets are/were primarily built to move cars and trucks. Anything with wheels, really. So "parking" other things on them conflicts with that original ideology.
I think it's great that people are pushing to change that ideology!
@sigue @batat Take a look at the excellent history, "Roads Were Not Built For Cars" by my friend Carlton Reid. Roads, especially outside cities, were paved through the lobbying of cyclists. Cars came much later.
https://www.vox.com/2015/3/19/8253035/roads-cyclists-cars-history
@straphanger @batat That is very cool, but what I see here is that for 30 years rich bicyclists pushed for building roads and then for 110 years since then roads have been built for cars.
So I'm sticking with my original statement that streets are built primarily for cars and trucks.
To repeat, I am 100% in favor of changing that dynamic.
@straphanger More at https://citizenspring.earth/citizengarden and https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/22/urban-rewilders-turning-parking-spaces-into-parklets-aoe
One legal solution was having a garden in a hand cart!
#CitizenGarden #Gardening #Rewilding #Parklets
@straphanger *left unsaid, rare is the person who wants a 1BR apartment OR the real estate company who wants a 1BR apartment in the portfolio. People want home offices or guest rooms and real estate companies want to give people apartments they can stay with - and that means grow into with families.
This is not surprising!
Let's not make too much of this ratio - which I would actually dispute!
That's why 1 bedroom apartments in NYC, Boston, SF, etc. are so cheap -- nobody wants one!
@rob @straphanger Fine... judge the 1BR's in NYC, Boston, or SF against the number of 3 car garages in those cities.
You'll be found wanting!
That's not the point!
I love a bit of lateral thinking.
I personally don't like streets cluttered with cars though.
@straphanger
Bulk #AltText for all images above:
Tent in the same shape and appearance as a car.
@straphanger sadly, this would not be tolerated as it's not a #licensed & #insuranced vehicle.
It would be however tolerated if it was in fact a licensed cabin scooter like a Piaggio Ape 50.
Furthermore most juristictions ban sleeping in cars...
That being said, #HousingFirst is essential!
Attached: 1 image βIn #Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment and counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.β Make sure everyone understands this β Itβs costing us far too much to NOT provide housing and supports to those who are homeless. https://scoop.me/housing-first-finland-homelessness/ #homelessness #cities #housing #HousingFirst
@straphanger this would just have rich assholes driving over homeless people.
Terrible idea
@straphanger @drewharwell While I understand the statement being made, this doesn't work out in reality.
Here in Oakland, we have massive streetside encampments, some in RVs, some in tents or makeshift shelters. They quickly become public health hazards and fire dangers; people have died in fires.
The homeless don't just need space, they need support & healthcare. "Let them use the parking spaces instead" is a very Marie Antoinette attitude to take.
@straphanger
In Germany not allowed.
Sleeping in your car on public ground is prohibited. There is only one exception - when you need to rest to be able to continue your trip.
But great idea.
@straphanger hi, can you please add image descriptions? I love this art project and would boost your post if you edited in descriptions for accessibility.
Here's a good guide to writing them, but really, any effort at all is better than nothing. https://uxdesign.cc/how-to-write-an-image-description-2f30d3bf5546
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