Why drivers might have turned green with envy
Why Norman drivers might have turned green with envy

Comments Comment on this article18

By Tami Althoff
Published: April 23, 2008

NORMAN — When the University of Oklahoma is in session, finding a parking spot on Campus Corner can be hard. Tuesday, it was next to impossible.


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In honor of Earth Day, about 35 bicyclists parked in metered parking spots along Asp Avenue to promote bicycles as a valid source of transportation. Organizer Margaret Kinkeade, a senior fine arts major, said the event drew little protest from Campus Corner merchants.

"Everybody's been really supportive, but one man did complain,” she said. "The owner came out and told us we didn't have a right to be there. He said he owned the parking space, and it was for his customers. The police were called out, they verified what we thought was right — that the city owned the parking spots, and we could be there as long as we were plugging the meters.”

Kinkeade said she and her roommate, Angela Chase, decided to park bicycles along Asp Avenue after a friend living above Buchanan Bicycles found a 1972 photo of bicycles parked along Asp Avenue on Earth Day.

"We made posters from the photo and told people we would plug the meters if they would park their bikes on Asp on Earth Day,” she said.

Getting a slow start
After a slow start, about 35 people were participating by the end of the day, occupying about 30 parking spots. Kinkeade said the cost to keep the meters plugged all day was about $2 per meter.

"Some people didn't park their bikes, but they donated money for the meters,” she said.

How did businesses react?
Hunter Mankin, manager of Seven47 restaurant, said the bicyclists were taking up his prime spots, but he wasn't too bothered. "Yes, it's irritating for our customers to have to walk that extra quarter mile,” he said. "But, it's Earth Day.”

A waitress at Pepe Delgados restaurant said servers didn't mind since most of them walk or ride their bikes. She couldn't speak for customers, though. "Our restaurant doesn't have a parking lot, so our customers have to park on the street,” Megan Lenhart said. "I'm sure some people were irritated, but none of us really minded.”


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David, What are some examples, since this incident was so "stupid" in your opinion, of raising awareness?
Heather, Ada - Apr 24, 2008 12:31 PM
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David, What are some examples, since this incident was so "stupid" in your opinion, of raising awareness?
Heather, Ada - Apr 24, 2008 12:31 PM
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David, What are some examples, since this incident was so "stupid" in your opinion, of raising awareness?
Heather, Ada - Apr 24, 2008 12:30 PM
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Jason, there are better ways of raising "awareness" than pulling this junk. This is just people out seeking attention for themselves.
David, oklahoma city - Apr 23, 2008 5:50 PM
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Jeffrey, why? Because I actually DO something for the environment instead of just talking about it and pulling stupid stunts so everybody will know I "care"?
David, oklahoma city - Apr 23, 2008 5:48 PM
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I feel this event and other similar events are productive because people that have the ability to infuence policy do see them, and these officials do respond. For example, Cindy Rosenthal, the mayor of Norman, is also a professor at OU. She has seen a lot of these "stupid stunts" from supporters of the environment in her city, and now Norman has a successful curbside recycling program. Public officials do pay attention to the news, and they do respond to legitimate citizen concerns. So, these "stupid stunts" run by "idiots" (your opinion) are really events which raise awareness of government officials and are coordinated by individuals that care about the community they live in.
jason, moore - Apr 23, 2008 5:09 PM
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You are a sad and depressing individual, David.
Jeff, Oklahoma City - Apr 23, 2008 4:21 PM
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So tell me how this stupid stunt was "productive".
David, oklahoma city - Apr 23, 2008 2:03 PM
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Well, Jason, first of all, I don't watch Idol, I don't watch crap like that. Second, I have probably done more to help the environment than most people, including the idiots in the story.
David, oklahoma city - Apr 23, 2008 2:02 PM
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Well, David, sometimes "stupid stunts" like these ARE very productive and the only way a lemming like yourself will turn off American Idol long enough to pay attention to what is happening in the world around you.
jason, moore - Apr 23, 2008 1:48 PM
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Too bad these idiots don't realize people would care more and not be so defiant if they would stop the stupid stunts and do something productive. Just like the stupid "TRUTH" commercials about smoking. I stopped smoking 1 1/2 years ago but every time I see those jerks pulling one of their stupid stunts, it's the only time anymore that I really get an urge for a smoke.
David, oklahoma city - Apr 23, 2008 1:32 PM
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There is an ocassionally used law in these cases called "interfering with official process." Parking meters are governed by city ordinances. So are violations. If a meter is expired and an officer sees that it has expired, once they start the ticketing process you cannot interfere at that time. The grey zone is if someone else sees that it is expired, also sees an officer turning the corner and plugs the meter. The officer was in a "process" of doing his or her job when a third party intervenes. I have seen stories in other states where people who plug meters have been arrested on this law. Norman PD did not react this time because they have the matter of the "mad poster" to deal with. By the way, did he ever bond out?
Sparky (Mark), Oklahoma City - Apr 23, 2008 11:53 AM
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I ate at Pepe's for 4 years with the O.U. modern languages department staff. I grew up in San Diego and visited South and Central America quite often as an M.K. (missionary kid). You are correct and I should have been more precise in the comparison. But I could never figure out what region "Pepe" was trying to emulate. It was like a mix of many different regions from Mexico and possibly even Brazil. That is my ire in that those regions don't mix well. As for Edmond being elitist, not from where I live. My family is a founding family as my grandmother house was located across from the downtown post office on Broadway. My family owned 2 square miles of which one is known as Kickingbird. All my family from those days are in the Edmond cemetary. All were farmers and ranchers and lived off the land. Edmond is a mix of every type of person, much like Norman. But with 4 years of existing around Campus Corner I got to be a good observer of people. Mainly the interesting interactions between Norman PD parking enforcement officers, OUPD officers, Norman Police patrol officers, State Policemen (rare but they exist), troopers, and Campus Corner private security(just to make sure you don't park to long in rear lots.)
burt, edmond - Apr 23, 2008 11:37 AM
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wow, someone from edmond talking about "social elitists". anyone see something wrong with that?

And just so you know, Ted's is tex-mex. Pepe's is FAR more authentic to the real thing than Ted's can ever hope to be. It's not the same, nor is it supposed to be. If you don't like it, then don't eat there, but shut up about it. Not everyone has the same taste buds.
Chris, midwest city - Apr 23, 2008 11:02 AM
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I avoid campus corner like the plague anyway. Pepe Delgados is Switzer's favorite hangout and I get tired of people kissing his shoes and super bowl ring when he enters. The food is not that good. They put a weird and slimy green liquid on most dishes, something called salsa verde. Teds is 1000 percent better and their "salsa verde" is something you dip chips and it has chunks of avacados. As for the rest of campus corner, forget it. It's mostly the social elitist plebs who just want to be seen parking their Lexus or H2's. As for parking rates, its is ridiculous that the city only makes $2.00 per day. It should be more like $18 per day per meter. It should at least be $1 per hour since OU's parking garages charge $2 per hour.
burt, edmond - Apr 23, 2008 10:38 AM
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Gee, what an accomplishment. Get a life you 'tards!
Xerxes, Oklahoma City - Apr 23, 2008 9:05 AM
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The picture along with this story really chose 3 suitable persons to show, didn't it? Wonder why those freaks weren't working instead of screwing off for the day??
paul, yukon - Apr 23, 2008 6:14 AM
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I thought someone once told me it was illegal to put coins into somebody else's meter. Who knows. I don't feel like researching it now.
Guy, tulsa - Apr 23, 2008 12:56 AM
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