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Today's Urban Design Observation: Finally Figured Out What That Repurposed Police Barricade is Being Used For
Few weeks ago I spotted this "Police Barricade Upcycle Fail." By its daily, unmoving position against a wall, I figured it had been discarded and served no purpose. One reader suggested that it might have been repurposed as a bike rack, which I'd not thought of.
Enter a caption (optional)Turns out we were both wrong. I see this object in the same place each morning because I walk my dogs past this spot around the same time. But the other morning I had to take them out at a different time, and saw this:
Enter a caption (optional)Why's it out in the street? Well, it's right in front of this industrial noodle manufacturing facility (yellow sign).
Enter a caption (optional)In the Google Street View image above, you can see:
1) That there's a car parked in front of it,
2) That there's a "curb cut," i.e. that a vehicle can drive directly up to the 3) Grey double-hinged doors that form the business' entrance. Sometimes when you pass you can see them loading the truck. And,
4) The barricade happens to fit perfectly along that blank spot of brick wall for storage.
So what I figured out by passing this place at the right time, is that the noodle guys use this thing to block off the street at certain times so that no one parks there when they're expecting the truck to come. Technically illegal, but I'm guessing the local cops have better things to do than to write them up.
Enter a caption (optional)
Enter a caption (optional)Anyways, just an example of how a local business has "borrowed" a piece of municipal kit and engages in a bit of harmless lawbreaking in order to keep their business running smoothly.
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Comments
There's something very appealing about the idea of little code violations and victimless crimes being tolerated to keep the city moving, rather than stumbling over its own laws and bureaucracy. Dirty hacks to serve good design, but more meta.
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In LA and many places it's illegal to park in front of a driveway, even your own. I think they could legally tow anyone that parks there but are saving everyone the trouble.
There aren't any "No Parking, Loading Zone" signs in use there?
What do you think, Bruce?