Pali Residents Protest LADOT Ban on Apron Parking

Protesters stood at the entrance of the Pacific Palisades Farmers Market off of Swarthmore Avenue and Sunset Boulevard on Sunday, attempting to spread the word about the Los Angeles Department of Transportation's ban on apron parking.

According to the Stop LADOT website, which provides detailed information about the protest, apron parking is when a car parks in the "driveway area between the sidewalk and the street." The site says that the apron area is not private property and is owned by the city. The space is, however, maintained by the homeowner, per the website.

Stop LADOT also states that per Los Angeles Municipal Code, "no person shall park a vehicle within any parkway," or apron.

Despite the municipal code, protesters said it had not been enforced for years. According to the Stop LADOT website, LADOT began issuing tickets on the Westside of LA by the end of July. And, by the end of August, began ticketing the entire city of Los Angeles. Tickets for apron parking start at $58 for a first time offense, according to protesters.

The sudden crackdown came as the city faced a threat of being sued for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, because the practice often blocks sidewalks. However, at a City Council meeting held in July, residents argued that removing apron parking actually harms those who have a disability because they cannot find close, convenient parking in their own neighborhoods.

"It all started in Westwood and spread to the Palisades in the last month or two. With no warning, I opened my door one morning to find my neighbors and I all received tickets on our cars," said Palisadian Mike Montgomery, who was protesting Sunday. "We count on those parking spaces. If I had known a year ago when I was buying my house I would have re-thought my purchase."

Due to the limited parking on Sunset Boulevard, another Palisadian, Hash Gandhi, has to park blocks away.

"Not only is it a nuisance to walk several blocks, now we bother our neighbors on the other streets because we can't park by our own homes and have to park in front of theirs," said Gandhi. 

"Why should we have to pay for maintenance of grass and plants on that side of the sidewalk if we can't even use it? And then the city doesn't even fix the sidewalk cracks and configuration because they claim it is not their responsibility," said Montgomery. "Parking is hard enough in LA, and this is only going to make it more difficult citywide."

Other demonstrations were held Sunday in Westwood, Los Feliz, Miracle Mile, and at USC.  

• For more information about the petition to reinstate apron parking, click here.
• To read about the protest in Mar Vista, .

Mar Vista Patch editor Kelly Hartog contributed to this report.

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