Oh, the irony.

[Lise]

I rode the Larkspur to work today, then to my appt with the energy healer, then home into a stiff headwind. 12 miles round trip, no big, but a good ride. I specifically rode today because the 4th Wed of the month is the dreaded "street cleaning day" in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. AKA "money making scam for the city of Chicago day". I am glad that they clean the streets. Don't get me wrong. But they clean the streets A LOT around here, and oh! the fines if you're parked in the wrong place!

So this makes finding a parking place near the clinic even more impossible than usual. Therefore, I ride. I carry my bike and panniers down the flight of stairs to the basement, move the reams of copier paper somebody stacked in the narrow little place where I lock it, etc. OK, I'm noble, I don't have to look for parking, I get some exercise, I save on gas, etc.

But.

I get home and notice a bright orange TICKET on my CAR!!! Yes! It's street cleaning day, here, too! But random! And the sign announcing that it's street cleaning day is HIDDEN UNDER THE BRANCHES OF THE TREE TO WHICH IT'S TIED!!!

$50.

CRUD.

Oh, the irony. Doing my part to keep the city funded. L.

[DrBee]

That stinks! You gave it a good try.

[Jones]

If the sign is well and truly hidden take a picture, go to court, show it to the judge. Maybe the judge will side with you and you won't have to pay a fine. Your day in court is free and $50.00 is 3/4 of an Amici Velocity Jersey. Good Luck.
Jones

[mimitabby]

I 've done this (taken a photo and beaten a ticket in court) so i know it works
good luck

[SadieKate]

. . . and $50.00 is 3/4 of an Amici Velocity Jersey. Good Luck.
Jones

And AG was accusing me of being a salesman.

Good work, Jones.

[Lise]

Here's the darn thing. You can see the orange cardboard just fine, if you're looking. Any Chicagoan recognizes that cardboard. Usually they tie them on street lamps, so they're more visible. I just didn't notice the sign in the dark tied to a tree when I parked the night before...and I happily took off on my bike in the morning, never glancing at my car. Alas. I'll have to pay the ticket AND buy one (two, maybe!) Amici Veloce items! L.

[Nanci]

It might still be worth a try if you explain that you parked in the dark and then rode your bike the next morning so as not to interfere with street cleaning at work. Even though they always say ignorance is no excuse...

Reminds me of snowplowing tickets up north. Snow emergency routes. Can only park on X side on X day...

They don't have either of those down here! :-)

[allabouteva]

Bummer! (Am I alllowed to say that? )

I'm sorry about the ticket, it is rather ironical. But I'm intrigued about the energy healer.... Wot's that?

e

[Tater]

I really dislike it when the snowplow routes come out!

[maillotpois]

That stinks!

[mtkitchn]

Gosh Lise, that is a bummer!
I'm sorry I laughed when I read your post though. Your $50 paid for some humor therapy for others.

[Lise]

Gosh Lise, that is a bummer!
I'm sorry I laughed when I read your post though. Your $50 paid for some humor therapy for others.

Oooh! Good! I am always looking for a way to justify an otherwise inexcuseable expense! See, if I'd just driven to work and gotten the $50 ticket, no one would've laughed. But there are 10 responses here, so that's $5- a laugh...cheap! Thanks, mtk, for helping me change my perspective! L.

[betagirl]

Wow, it must have been parking ticket day on 5/24! I know those orange signs well, and yes they do tie them to trees in some pretty stupid ways. My other favorites are the "no parking movie set" signs. Stupid city.

I decided to park illegally last wed. and run into the hospital where I work to grab some paperwork before heading out of town. I was there maybe 5 minutes, came out and the lady is writing me a ticket. There were about 6 cars parked along this block illegally, and she was just making her way down the row. I was stupid and parked in back. I should have moved to the front of the line. I was like "I guess it doesn't matter that I work here?" Nope. She actually apologized when she handed it to me. $50 later. I have 2 outstanding tickets from years ago, and in chicago once you get 3 unpaid tickets you get the boot. So I have to pay this one. *grumble*

So I feel your pain

[KnottedYet]

Nice of her to apologize. I imagine that's not a fun job.

[Lise]

I have 2 outstanding tickets from years ago, and in chicago once you get 3 unpaid tickets you get the boot. So I have to pay this one. *grumble*

So I feel your pain

You know it, sister. The boot is no joke. L.