By Joe Peery
For some years residents of May Avenue have expressed safety concerns about their street. In particular, cars parked on both sides of the street make it narrow and difficult for emergency vehicles to access. Increased parking that stems from weekend evenings as well as the East Atlanta Farmers Market on Thursdays make the issue worse.
In the first week of January, the city announced that it was going to restrict parking to one side of the street on this block of May Avenue. The city issued the following notification:
Notice of Parking Restriction Enforcement
Sec. 150-92. Parking on narrow streets:
Signs indicating no parking upon any street may be erected when the width of the roadway does not exceed 20 feet or upon one side of a street as indicated by these signs when the width of the roadway does not exceed 30 feet. (Code 1977, & 13-2228(a)).
Effective the week of February 8, parking will be restricted along the north side of May Avenue SE from Flat Shoals Avenue to Blake Avenue. This restriction is an effort to provide safe passage and accessibility for residents as well as for emergency vehicles. The City of Atlanta Department of Public Works will install “No Parking Tow Away” signs along the north side of May Avenue SE. On-street parking will still be allowed on the south side of street. Violators are subject to being towed.
The East Atlanta Community Association (EACA) believes that the safety concerns of the May Avenue residents are legitimate as emergency vehicles should not be impaired while performing their duties. In addition, EACA has initiated a conversation with city officials to discuss this new restriction to gather input from neighbors, explore other solutions that have not been considered, and determine if there are other blocks in East Atlanta with similar public safety concerns.
As always, the work of City Council Member Natalyn Archinbong and her office is appreciated, and the community looks forward to participating in this conversation as a way to improve the overall public safety in East Atlanta.
Joe Peery is the transportation chair of EACA.
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