Where can we put our cars?
It had to happen eventually: U.S. residents can no longer fit their cars into their garages.
Well, a lot of them, at least.
A story by writer Joe Robinson in the Los Angeles Times cites a study showing that an amazing 75 percent of middle-class Los Angelos residents no longer use their garages for cars. And what are they using those garages for? To store stuff. You can read this fascinating story here.
This may sound funny, but it’s actually resulted in some real tension. Because they’re not using their garages in the way nature intended, more Los Angeles residents are parking their cars on the street. This means fewer available street spots, which results in people parking cars in front of other people’s homes.
Now, that parking space sitting right outside your home isn’t technically yours. It’s public property. But doesn’t it rile you up when someone parks their SUV in it? Sure it does. And that’s what’s happening in neighborhoods across the United States.
And it’s all because people have too many lawnmowers, bicycles, basketball hoops, old bed frames, unused lamps and who knows what else, all junk that they pile into their garage. I’ve seen some garages that you’d need a map and compass to get through. And you’d better fill a canteen with water just in case you still get lost.
Come on, people. A garage is for cars, first and foremost. Then if there’s any room left over, you can shove in some old tables and that chair with the hole in its seat.
