Snowstorm Parking & Driving Advisory

With all that white stuff hitting the Chicagoland area the past several hours, it will certainly have an effect on driving and parking.

Avoid  Overnight Parking On Major Streets

Chicagoans should be on alert for the city to call for a 2" ban on all major thoroughfares.

The odds are against it as, despite the 2" designation on the signs, and the fact that more than 2" of snow has already covered the ground, Streets & Sanitation rarely triggers the ban. In fact, no 2" ban was initiated the previous two winters according to Streets & Sanitation spokesperson Matt Smith.

However, we strongly advise you not to avoid parking overnight on major thoroughfares, or for prolonged period of times during daytime hours.

The reasons are two-fold.

First, reports of cars being ticketed for violating the 2" rule have been coming  in, despite the fact the city did not issue the ban. One assumes poorly trained ticket writers are writing  these improper violations.

Second, fast moving snow plows could leave your parked car locked in a glacier of snow and give you a real workout to clean it off.

Garages, parking lots and of course, side streets are much safer during large scale snowfalls like this.

Suburban Parking Bans

While Chicago hasn't issued a parking ban, two of Chicago's suburban neighbors to the north, have announced bans in their towns.

According to the Evanston Review newspaper, Evanston has a ban on parking on all primary arterial streets Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Violators of the ban will  face a $50 ticket.

Then on Wednesday and Thursday, snow emergency regulations kick in. Motorists parked on residential streets will have to move their cars from the even side of the street on Wednesday and from the odd side of the street on Thursday. Emergency sirens will go off at 7:15 AM and 12:15 PM to remind residents.

Violating this regulation could cost you $100 for the ticket and the tow.

Then, according to the Wilmette Life newspaper, Wilmette has also announced a parking ban that prohibits parking on both sides of any village streets. The ban lifts 24 hours after the snow stops, which is most likely early Thursday morning.

Challenging Rush Hour Expected Wednesday Morning

While Chicago has their entire fleet of 275 snow plows on the streets, and all 360 IDOT trucks are clearing area expressways, expect dramatically slower than normal commuting times Wednesday.

That's because the snow is not expected to stop until sometime during the morning rush hour.

Expect side streets to remain unplowed and difficult to traverse until well after the snow ends, when plows can move from clearing main arterial streets.

Remember to slow down and drive safely.

Junk To Invade Residential Streets?

Don't be surprised to see an influx of plastic patio chairs, orange safety cones, lengths of two by fours and other crazy crap onto residential streets all over Chicago.

It usually takes a storm of this magnitude to give a reason for the hillbilly and/or intellectually challenged element in this city to drag out their crap onto the street to "reserve" parking spots they shoveled out.

Don't embarrass yourself.

Say "NO!" to street junk.