Is New Bedford’s Residential Street Parking Getting Worse?

Does anybody know why I've been struggling with parking around New Bedford lately?

Before anyone asks, this isn't my first rodeo in the city. I've lived in three different areas before moving to the West End and never had an issue with off-road parking. The odd part that boggles me the most is that I've noticed a lot of empty driveways, but full parking on the streets. This was an observation that's been made several times at the end of the day, when a majority of people should be home from work.

There have been several neighborhood cars that haven't moved since I moved in, perhaps because they are broken down, or maybe the owner simply isn't working right now. The coronavirus is still very much alive and companies haven't completely opened up quite yet, so I suppose that makes sense. However, a few non-mobile vehicles shouldn't be the main reason for the overpopulated streets.

One of my neighbors works late nights at a restaurant and when she comes home tired at the end of the day, she has to sometimes walk a block or two just to get to her house from her parking spot.

I'm sorry for complaining, but there has to be some type of solution to all of this.

Again, I don't know why street parking is as busy as it has been, but if I were a city councilor or on some type of board to improve the city, I would start with the parking situation.

It's understandable that some multi-family households have an average of six adults to them, rounding out to somewhere between three to six cars, and there's just nothing you can do about that. For the apartments and single-family houses that only have a car or two, there should definitely be assigned parking. You can fit two cars comfortably in front of each house, so I think this plan would actually work effectively. That is, of course, as long as the residents abided to it.

I feel as though this problem will never have a solution to it and it's quite possible I'm just venting since I couldn't find a spot before writing this article, but a guy can dream, right?

Just don't get me started on the winter parking when the bans come into play. That's a whole other ball of stress in itself that I don't want to have to worry about for a few more months.