The brand new Cab Stand on North St., at the corner of Commercial St., is no longer a Cab Stand. In record-breaking speed by the City of Boston, it has been transformed into a marked Handicap Ramp.
Readers of this blog learned the story of the space a few days ago, when a handicap ramp was suddenly turned into a “Tow Zone — Cab Stand”. The handicap ramp in the sidewalk at the spot was so hard to see, it was a perfect stealth trap by City towing trucks. Every morning at 7:30 a car would be towed. The City obviously loved those fines and towing charges.
After that story appeared, an anonymous note was received by this blog saying, “A mistake was made.” The space should have been designated a Handicap Ramp. The anonymous City Hall source said the wrong work order code was sent out. Blame it on the computer, as usual.
And sure enough, in a flash, the “Tow Zone — Cab Stand” signs were replaced with Handicap Ramp signs.
Why the space was simply not used like any other parking space, with meter checkers and ever-alert tow truck operators told to ignore the useless handicap ramp (since few people can see it and there is a ramp at a crosswalk a few feet away), would have been far too logical and simple a solution for our parking experts at City Hall.
The Cab Stand may now be a candidate for the Guinness Book of Records: The shortest-lived Cab Stand in the Western World — one that never had a cab standing at it.
Bob Skole
