* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmembers Clarke, Middleton, and Kraft
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Request for State Action - On-Street Parking Flexibility
FOR the purpose of respectfully requesting that the General Assembly adopt, and the Governor sign, legislation amending State Transportation Article § 21-1004 to allow Baltimore to improve traffic safety by allowing parking on the left side of designated streets where requiring right-side only parking undermines public safety.
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Recitals
Baltimore is in many ways unique among Maryland's jurisdictions. Because of this, occasionally laws that make sense for the counties are a poor fit for our city. The General Assembly has repeatedly recognized this simple fact in the past by granting Baltimore the flexibility to make our own laws in areas where our circumstances may differ from those elsewhere.
One area where more flexibility is needed is the application of Maryland Transportation Article § 21-1004(a) to on-street parking in Baltimore. This statewide law generally requires vehicles on a two-way street to park on the right side of the road with their right wheels parallel to the curb, meaning that vehicles must be parked pointing in the direction that traffic flows.
In most places, at most times, this is a very sensible requirement that improves safety on our roads. However, in the peculiar environment that exists in some Maryland neighborhoods - with narrow streets, high demand for parking, and few driveways or other safe places to reverse direction - applying this rule can make parking difficult and unsafe.
Baltimore should have the ability to address these safety concerns by allowing left-side parking on designated streets where parking on both sides of the street is impossible or would require motorists to make dangerous 3-point or U- turns that block busy intersections and travel lanes in order to reverse direction. Most Baltimore streets would be unaffected if the City was given this right, but on those where it is needed safety would be vastly improved, accidents prevented, and residents spared the threat of a parking ticket for behaving prudently.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council respectfully requests that the General Assembly adopt, and the Governor sign, legislation amending State Transportation Article § 21-1004 to allow Baltimore to improve traffic safety by allowing parking on the left side of designated streets where requiring right-side only parking undermines public safety.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City House and Senate Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, the President of the Maryland Senate, the Maryland House Speaker, the Mayor, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
dlr14-1036~intro/12Nov14
ccres/RSAparking/tw
dlr14-1036~intro/12Nov14
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ccres/RSAparking/tw