# I cleared this spot, it's MINE! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096 "2026-01-27T17:00:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/101 "2026-01-29T16:39:28Z")
In Chicago, “The Big Snow” was in 67. Yeah, I was a kid then. But that was the only real mention of snow I can recall through high school. Then 78-79 were a couple of hugely snowy winters. They remain the 2 snowiest winters since 1884. Those made news - in part - because the city did a poor job of handling it, and Jane Byrne used that to help propel herself into the mayor’s office. I was starting college back then in central IL, so I don’t have specific recollections as to how bad those years were in Chicago. In central Illinois it was cold and snowy, but as a student I was walking everywhere so you just did it. When I came home for Christmas, I just recall it being the standard deal, where you would have to push cars out of the snow near the curb into the ruts down the street. My wife recalls getting her car stuck in the snow the first time she came to my parents’ house - which would have been 84-85 winter break. Chicago’s heaviest year - 89”, is a full 20” heavier than the 5th heaviest. Only 8 years out of 140 exceeded 60”. In 1979, the heaviest single snowfall was 16.5”. That’s a lot of snow. But it was 20 years after that before we got our next 10” snowfall. On average - and especially lately, winters seem much milder than previously, with much less snow. (He says looking out at a snowy lawn on this umpteenth day of temps in the teens or lower.) 🙄 Not entirely clear to me how different Chicago and Boston’s snowfalls are. Looks like Boston averages in the high 40s - around 48”, with Chicago about 10” less. But other sites make them look more comparable. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/102 "2026-01-29T16:44:37Z")
Umm… at our previous home, my wife measured any snowfall over an inch. Did it for something like 30 years. A yearly snowfall of 30 feet, was not that unusual. It generally between 20 and 30 feet. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/103 "2026-01-29T16:49:47Z")
Boston recorded 110" in 2015, 107" in 1996. There have been 5 single storm totals over 24" since 1978. We get enough big storms that snow emergencies are common, 1 or 2 a year is normal. In 2015 the big snow emergency lasted most of the month of February. Boston, being coastal, probably gets heavier wetter snow than Chicago, which makes removal more difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/104 "2026-01-29T17:07:32Z")
Yeah - those snowfalls greatly exceed anything seen in Chicago. > [@enipla](#): > > Umm… at our previous home, my wife measured any snowfall over an inch. Did it for something like 30 years. > > A yearly snowfall of 30 feet, was not that unusual. It generally between 20 and 30 feet. So, you had to park on the other side of the streets to allow the snowplows through? 😉 I honestly don’t know what snow is like in large cities such as Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis… But if you haven’t lived in a large-ish city that got a decent amount of snow and where a lot of people depend on street parking instead of driveways and garages, you might not really understand this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/105 "2026-01-29T17:15:13Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > So, you had to park on the other side of the streets to allow the snowplows through? No, we did often have to park at the bottom of the driveway until I got our drive plowed. Lot’s of jockeing around vehicles. Had to be careful though not to block the grader. The used graders with a plow on the front, underneath and a wing blade. 6 wheel drive. And If we where to have company, I often just plowed the road myself. But I didn’t want to do that too much. I didn’t want them to think I was gonna always do their job for them. It was crazy, April/May could be the biggest months for snow. And that’s when the plow drivers would get laid off. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/106 "2026-01-29T17:22:20Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’d be interested in hearing from folk in Chicago or the close-in burbs like Berwyn. In many areas of Chicago and burbs such as Berwyn, there are no driveways. Most buildings have a single 2-car garage in back off an alley, but that is insufficient for all parking, especially if people own multiple cars, or for 2 or 3 flats or apartment buildings. I’m in a close-in suburb, and you described the situation here well (as I think I did upthread, too). In this suburb, when it snows 2+", they activate the “winter parking” system; on alternate days, parking is prohibited on one side of the street, or the other. So, for example, on a Monday, cars are not permitted to park on the west side of N-S streets, nor the north side of E-W streets. The village _does_ plow the residential/secondary streets, though they don’t focus on those until the main streets are mostly clear, and it’s stopped snowing. So, on a snowy Monday, when cars are supposed to be parked on the east side of my street, the plows will be plowing the center of the street, and, hopefully, also plowing to the curb on the west side. Then, late on Monday night or early on Tuesday morning, cars are supposed to be moved over to the west side, and on Tuesday, they’ll plow the east side of the street, to the curb. The village typically keeps the winter parking rules in effect until at least 24 hours after the snow ends. This gets screwed up if someone doesn’t move their car, obviously. Also, the winter parking rules go into effect on December 1st; we got a big snowfall in late November this year, and people weren’t required to move their cars, which made things even more chaotic. Of course, if it’s a heavy snowfall, your car is going to be buried in snow, and the plow will probably have pushed snow up against your car, making it even more fun to shovel out. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/107 "2026-01-29T17:38:47Z")
Anyone who hasn’t been in the mountains during winter, really has little idea what snow accumulation truly is. Can’t imagine how you lived there, my friend. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > In this suburb, when it snows 2+", they activate the “winter parking” system; on alternate days, parking is prohibited on one side of the street, or the other. Thanks for the explanation. When I regularly drive to your town, I find the various parking signs - not only the snow ones - quite confusing. I’ve given up trying to figure it out. I drive there at least weekly year around. Have never noticed any parking differences no matter how recent or heavy the snow. I used to ask residents if it was OK to park on whatever street, and they always just said, “It’s fine.” > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > So, on a snowy Monday, when cars are supposed to be parked on the east side of my street, the plows will be plowing the center of the street, and, hopefully, also plowing to the curb on the west side. Then, late on Monday night or early on Tuesday morning, cars are supposed to be moved over to the west side, and on Tuesday, they’ll plow the east side of the street, to the curb. So, let’s say it snows overnight - Monday into Tuesday. When is the side switching initiated? Are you supposed to check somewhere? How well do people comply? Around here, my idiot neighbors can’t even be arsed to check on the trash pick-up rules. If we didn’t have driveways and garages, I can’t imagine them checking snow/parking rules. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/108 "2026-01-29T17:44:46Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > When I regularly drive to your town, I find the various parking signs - not only the snow ones - quite confusing. I’ve given up trying to figure it out. April through November, they have opposite-side parking rules for street sweeping (and, in the fall, leaf removal), but on any given street, that only affects two days a week. On my street, you can’t park on the east side on Mondays (during daytime hours), and can’t park on the west side on Tuesdays – and you _will_ get a ticket if you don’t move your car (we’ve gotten a couple when we’ve forgotten to move the car). The snow rules, which run from December through March, only apply if there’s been a recent snowfall of at least 2". So, at least in recent winters, they haven’t applied for most of the winter. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > So, let’s say it snows overnight - Monday into Tuesday. When is the side switching initiated? IIRC, it’s in effect from 8am until 8pm. So, any time after 8pm, you can move your car over, but need to have it moved no later than 8am the next morning. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > How well do people comply? In my neighborhood, compliance is pretty good. One does see a car on the wrong side sometimes, but overall, it’s definitely 90+%. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/109 "2026-01-29T17:56:10Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Anyone who hasn’t been in the mountains during winter, really has little idea what snow accumulation truly is. Can’t imagine how you lived there, my friend. Yeah, thanks. 33 years at 11,200 feet. No garage. Now we have 2 - two car garages attached. And they are freaking heated. It’s heaven. My wife has one, I have the other. But I’m getting off subject. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/110 "2026-01-29T18:00:52Z")
Incidentally, yesterday, The New York Times ran an [article](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/nyregion/new-york-hot-tubs-snow-storm.html?unlocked_article_code=1.IFA.ir-v.HNoAW1AzC4gJ&smid=url-share) (gift link) about how NYC uses machines like the Trecan Combustion 60-PD Snowmelter ([link](https://www.trecan.com/snowmelters/portable-models/) to the manufacturer’s website) to melt the snow collected from the streets. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/111 "2026-01-29T18:04:42Z")
I just looked out my front window. Today is garbage day. My 2 cans are at the end of my driveway, 1 on either side. Some idiot who is visiting the person across the street pulled up just past my driveway, such that they were less than a foot past my trash can. From inside, I could hear the garbage truck coming down the street. The driver was still in the car with the engine running. The garbage truck had to pull up to within inches of the idling car to get at my can, then had to back up to get around them. So no, I would not expect persons around here to cooperate with snow or other parking restrictions. And the police routinely do not issue tickets, even for clear violations, absent a citizen’s complaint. I really hate most people! 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/112 "2026-01-29T23:49:24Z")
I’ve just been thinking that an underlying assumption of the “dibs” people is “other people should not benefit from my hard work.” It’s a very American way of thinking about things. I can’t help but envision a world in which community members emerge as one, shovels in hand, and keep working until every spot is cleared. Glad I don’t live in the city. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/113 "2026-01-30T02:43:45Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Around here, my idiot neighbors can’t even be arsed to check on the trash pick-up rules. If we didn’t have driveways and garages, I can’t imagine them checking snow/parking rules. The nice thing is the tow truck will check for them! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/114 "2026-01-31T17:21:46Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The snow rules, which run from December through March, only apply if there’s been a recent snowfall of at least 2". So, at least in recent winters, they haven’t applied for most of the winter. Drove to your lovely burg this morning. I sure thought I had blown at least 2” yesterday and thought snow was supposed to be heavier closer to the lake, but saw no signs that any cars had been moved along your streets. Asked several of your fellow residents about what their understanding of the snow parking rules, and they all claimed to have no idea. One guy said he measured only 1.4” of snow in his guage. I’m sure everyone would’ve sprung into action if an additional .6” had fallen! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/115 "2026-01-31T17:25:25Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Drove to your lovely burg this morning. I sure thought I had blown at least 2” yesterday and thought snow was supposed to be heavier closer to the lake, but saw no signs that any cars had been moved along your streets. They did not activate the snow parking rules yesterday / today – when they decide to activate those rules, I get an automated text and an automated email from the village. I’d guess that not enough snow actually fell. I shoveled last night, and it was only about an inch here; a dusting fell later in the evening, but didn’t even cover my sidewalks. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > Asked several of your fellow residents about what their understanding of the snow parking rules, and they all claimed to have no idea. That’s just willful ignorance on their part, then. The winter parking rules (and the summer street-sweeping parking rules) are posted on street signs on every block of every residential street in town. As far as the text and email notifications – well, I chose to sign up for those. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/116 "2026-01-31T18:12:59Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > As far as the text and email notifications – well, I chose to sign up for those. Yeah, I looked up the rules this morning and saw about the alerts. I’m impressed if a lot of people sign up for those. Maybe the people I spoke with all have off-street parking. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/117 "2026-01-31T18:16:23Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Maybe the people I spoke with all have off-street parking. That could also be. I really paid very little notice to the street parking rules until 2020, when we suddenly had three cars, but only a two-car garage. Until then, the only time it came up was when we had the occasional house guest, parking their car in front of our house. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/118 "2026-01-31T20:25:54Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > No parking at any time for which the penalty is [public hanging](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rWogRmKD7g) (It’s a MontyPython skit) ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/119 "2026-01-31T20:33:14Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > (It’s a MontyPython skit) Dave Allen ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096/120 "2026-01-31T20:35:45Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > Dave Allen (the link shows a (mistaken) 2 second preview of Dave Allen, but then goes to the one-minute long Monty Python skit.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cleared-this-spot-its-mine/1027096.md?page=7)