Entry from September 24, 2004
Alternate side of the street parking
"Alternate Side" seems like some ancient tradition carried over from the Dutch, but it's only from about 1950. It's called "street cleaning regulations" now.
17 October 1945, New York Times, pg. 22:
Mr. Gottlieb (William J. Gottlieb, president of the Automobile Club of New York - ed.), in his letter to Commissioner Wallander, presented his proposal for prohibition of parking or stopping at alternate sides of designated streets in congested areas. He would keep the north sides of streets clear in the morning and the south sides in the afternoon.
27 July 1950, New York Times, pg. 25:
Patrolmen started yesterday the posting of 1,500 no-parking signs on the lower East Side in preparation for a test of alternate-side-of-the-street parking to permit unhampered street-cleaning.
17 October 1945, New York Times, pg. 22:
Mr. Gottlieb (William J. Gottlieb, president of the Automobile Club of New York - ed.), in his letter to Commissioner Wallander, presented his proposal for prohibition of parking or stopping at alternate sides of designated streets in congested areas. He would keep the north sides of streets clear in the morning and the south sides in the afternoon.
27 July 1950, New York Times, pg. 25:
Patrolmen started yesterday the posting of 1,500 no-parking signs on the lower East Side in preparation for a test of alternate-side-of-the-street parking to permit unhampered street-cleaning.