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We don't have to deal with snow or even much in the way of rain in Los Angeles; inscrutable signs seem to be the price we have to pay for parking in paradise.
But one designer in Brooklyn—who spent in a stint in Los Angeles racking up parking tickets—has been working on a project to transform those totem pole-like signs into something we can actually read. The worst parking signs use a lot of space telling us when we can't park, but designer Nikki Sylianteng creates signs that also tells you when you can park. The designs that she's come up with so far show you a schedule of when you can park, when you can't and whether there's a limit to how long you can park. So far her designs haven't tackled every eventuality (like loading zones), but it looks like she's just getting started on her site To Park Or Not To Park.
The cool thing is that Sylianteng's designs are constantly evolving as she gets more feedback, and she's walks everyone through the rationale for her designs. She's included hatchmarks so the colorblind can read the signs. She's asked whether we need to know whether our car will be towed or merely ticketed (I'd have to go with yes: after getting towed once, I hit the gas when I see a spot like that unless I'm positive I'll be moving out of them with a plenty of time to spare). One man suggested these wouldn't work too well for drivers passing by quickly—Sylianteng points out that none of the worst offenders really do.
So far she's put up signs in Brooklyn where she asks people on the street for feedback with a sharpie. If you have a sign that seems like it might be ripe for her design, she asks you to hit her up. She's already been double-checking the hours for some places around Los Angeles:
@toparknottopark If this is a parking meter zone, no other restrictions : Yes, the meter is NOT enforced 6AM-8AM, 6PM-10PM.
— LADOT (@LADOTofficial) July 7, 2014
Maybe we'll be getting some soon:
@emmagallegos woohoo this is a goldmine! always looking for confusing signs to clarify.
— Nikki Sylianteng (👀 for my next thing) (@nsylianteng) July 16, 2014
In the meantime, she's asking for help and sharpie donations for her "functional graffiti."
Related:
13 Of Los Angeles' Most Ridiculous Parking Signs
Photo: Behold, The One-Minute Parking Sign
Photos: Celebrities Get Parking Tickets, Too
