4th Ward Alderman Christopher R Carpenter

Do you know the real reason for alternate parking in the City of Amsterdam from November 1st to April 1st?

Many of our streets simply aren’t wide enough to safely allow vehicles to be parked on both sides while still leaving room for a fire truck, ambulance, school bus, garbage truck, or snowplow during the winter months.

Imagine needing help in an emergency and first responders can’t reach your home. Imagine an ambulance being delayed because the street is blocked. None of us would ever want to face that reality.

Over the past few days, I’ve driven throughout the city and have seen countless streets where cars are parked on both sides, creating dangerous bottlenecks for emergency and city vehicles.

This isn’t about being argumentative, it’s about safety. When a car isn’t moved, it can prevent someone from getting the help they need in a critical moment.

During snowstorms, blocked streets also prevent plows from doing their job. Crews are forced to return later, pulling them away from other neighborhoods that also need attention. The problem only grows when snow is blown back into freshly plowed streets when snowblowing your driveway.

Please be a good neighbor and follow the alternate parking rules. It helps keep our streets safe, clear, and accessible for everyone. If you get caught not following the law, you will be ticketed or towed.

The life you help protect might one day be your own.