Community Corner

Is Back-In Angled Parking Working in Union Square?

A new method of parking in Union Square—that has created 11 new parking spots but narrowed a traffic lane—has begun in Union Square. It's an experiment. Do you think it's working?

Back-in angled parking is now under way in Union Square.

, in which drivers back into angled spots, is meant to create more parking spots, increase safety for pedestrians, drivers and bikers, make it easier to load and unload your car, and be safer to pull out into traffic when leaving.

The new parking configuration, on Bow Street in Union Square, adds about 11 new parking spots to the business district, but it also narrows the traffic lane.

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A video on the  website shows Bow Street's back-in angled parking in action. The video was created by LivableStreets, a biking, walking and transit advocacy group, and it includes interviews with locals who love the new parking method.

Check out the video here.

Find out what's happening in Somervillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

An article in the Boston Herald paints a different picture, though.

The Herald quotes some local business owners who say the parking change isn't working. Some bicyclists told the Herald that narrowing Bow Street's traffic lane makes the street more dangerous.

The Herald article also includes a video. You can read and watch here.

Union Square's back-in angled parking experiment is a pilot program, which means it's not set in stone.

Do you think it's working? Is it too soon to tell? Is the Herald just being cranky Or is the program a dud?


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