At some point during the past 40 years, we in America have forgotten that life, in wildly alien regions, exists without the influence of the car (“Space Jam,” Aug. 20). Still, the draw of noxious exhaust fumes and insane traffic jams has enchanted us and we are now in “love” with the automobile. In a city with one of the finest public transportation systems in the country, we spend considerable portions of our time and effort on finding a parking space for an impotent car. Love for the car, I think, is actually an addiction.
The answer to growing parking problems is not more spaces; it is fewer cars. As much as the automobile, gasoline and parking industries don’t want it revealed, we would be better off without cars. We would feel less stress, get more exercise, build greater independence, and spend a lot less money.
Living in a near-west suburb, I have had no trouble going to school, working and socializing in the city without a car. But what keeps Chicagoans driving endlessly in their isolation, searching for someplace to park? Is it a fear of people? An illusion of power and independence in an accelerating world? A consumer-culture outlet for raging sexual egos? Or maybe it’s just that beautiful choke of car exhaust.
— David Driscoll, River Forest
One parking problem Keir Graff barely touched on in his otherwise excellent report is that the city seems bent on taking away spaces in Lake View. One driver Graff rode with mentioned a construction project hogging spaces that may leave a loading zone when it’s finished. That’s exactly what happened on my street. Also, a tow zone near a stop sign removed two spaces that seemed perfectly safe when they were there.
With loading zones, neighborhood permits and too many tow zones, the streets have almost become private parking even when there are spaces. Streets & San should be looking for spaces to add, not take away.
— Kenneth Salkover, Chicago
All those new buildings going up downtown make me think back to when I worked there and could spend good times there after work and on weekends. My old hangouts are gone; they are only memories now.
The Loop is becoming a facade, or at least a group of facades. In a one-block area we now have facades only of the Oliver Building, Old Heidelberg, and the Selwyn and the Harris theaters. We are losing a lot of our architectural and historical heritage for a lot of sterile and uninteresting buildings.
— Edward Lace, Wilmette
My heart goes out to those Chicagoans with parking problems. Some consolation can be given to them with the following adage:
“You can’t drive your house, but you can always live in your car.”
— A. Bruce Janecek, La Grange Park
How can one put forth an article about anything in Chicago and leave out the largest area of the city: the South Side (not the racially coded “Near” South Side)? In fact, parking between East 55th over to Cottage Grove and down to 47th is a story in itself.
— Gwendolyn C. Walker, Chicago
WHY BE NASTY?
Sharon Novickas comments that “if I spot a fatty, I sneak up and wait for them to say something” to find out if they are American (Letters, Aug. 13). I hope next time Ms. Novickas does this, a “fatty” turns around and belts her.
I do not condone being overweight if for no other reason than a person’s health. However, being mean to a heavy person is uncalled for.
Perhaps Ms. Novickas should spend more time in France where she does her culture comparisons. With her arrogant attitude, she would fit right in.
— Michelle George, Oak Lawn
———-
Send letters to The Editor, Chicago Tribune Magazine, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, or to our Internet address, tribmag@tribune.com.
All correspondence must include the writer’s name, home address and phone number. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.
