Hey, there! Log in / Register

311 complaint of the day: Ice-cream trucks don't belong in bike lanes, even if they're not blaring 'HEH-LO!'

By adamg on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 12:27pm
Ice-cream truck parked in a bike lane

A disgruntled resident files a 311 complaint about the ice-cream truck whose driver keeps parking in a bike lane at Green and Elm streets in Jamaica Plain:

This is a daily occurrence here. Not safe to have people have to veer out into traffic around it.

Neighborhoods: 
Jamaica Plain
Topics: 
Business
Free tagging: 
ice cream
bike lanes
Elm Street
Green Street
311


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

By cybah on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 12:46pm.

These drivers do not care about this.

I'll spare my rant about the ice cream truck in neighborhood but my take is they do not care. They park where they want and before anyone can call N complain about them, they disappear.

These guys only care about selling their wares and nothing more. Gone are the days of a friendly ice cream man who is there to provide a service, not there to make a buck. Now its just to make a buck so they could care less about bike likes or fire hydrants or even if its safe for the kids to come to the truck.

And from my experience trying to complain about the one in my neighborhood is that Ice Cream trucks are weirdly regulated. I was pretty much told they were regulated on a state level, not a city level. So good luck if you want to complain about them.

up
24

By David Wean on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 12:48pm.

that the photo includes a phone number.

up
14

By John Costello on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 1:07pm.

It is from the know it all Bike Elysium - Somerville.

By ScottB on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 2:01pm.

Somerville stayed in 617. 781-666 appears to be assigned to Saugus but it also looks like it's mostly mobile numbers so there's not much of a geographical connection.

By John Costello on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 2:37pm.

The mark of the beast remains for all landlines in 02144.

By ScottB on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 4:23pm.

There are other NXX codes in the Gateway to Meffa and the telephone exchanges don't always quite line up with the city borders. Far back in the mists of time I had a Cambridge phone number and a Somerville address -- saved me $10 or so a month on my phone bill to not need the Metropolitan local plan.

By Robin on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 4:37pm.

Granted, I live in 02143, but I started out in 02144, and have always had 776 for my landline, to my infinite disappointment.

By SwirlyGrrl on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 4:57pm.

Surprised it isn't assigned to Salem. Boo!

By cybah on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 6:52pm.

978-666-XXXX is assigned to salem. My friend who owns two witch shops purposely got 666 numbers for his shops. I wanna say one is 666-EVIL or 666-DEAD , but can't be sure.

fwiw.. Salem is in 978, Swampscott is still 781.

By anon on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 1:09pm.

First of all, this is 2024 and not 1955, so I'm not sure why "ice cream trucks" even exist, but they seem to have made a big comeback in the past several years, after years of lying fallow. And they all blast that same drunken sounding "HELLOOWWW" music at ear splitting volume. Is there one overarching company or are these guys all independent? The ones I have seen are disreputable looking. Often wearing filthy sleeveless undershirts, cigarettes dangling from mouth. They pull over on corners and intersections where it is not safe for children to run to and from them.

By anon on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 4:38pm.

Why shouldn't ice cream trucks exist today? It's not like 7-year-olds are going to order their ice cream on GrubDash.

up
14

By cybah on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 7:04pm.

1. Kids can get most of these varieties these trucks sell at any bodega
2. Parents will be glad when ice cream trucks go away (due to the "mommy mommy I want ice cream" fights that happen when a truck appears)
3. We should be mindful of what kids are eating. Ice cream is pure fat and sugar. Sure its up to the parents, but ask any parent what its like dealing with #2 and they take 3 bucks out their wallet and say "Go".
4. We need to be mindful at marketing to children. This is purely marketing aimed at kids. We don't allow toys inside cereal anymore, and McDonald's isnt allowed to push happy meals onto kids anymore. Why is this any different?

By Plen-T-Pak on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 8:40pm.

Ice cream trucks really hit a nerve. I always remember the ice cream guy being kinda shady and down on his luck going back to the seventies. I've never encountered the 1950s well groomed and informed good humor guy.

By cybah on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 6:59pm.

I know your ice cream truck. This is the same guy who I have issues with. Dirty tank tops, smoking cigs, stops unsafe for kids. And that ANNOYING "HELLLOWWW" every 28 seconds.

And yes they are creepy now. Its all independently owned. Anyone with a truck, a freezer on a generator, and a permit can drive an ice cream truck. So now you have the less than stellar drivers now.. cuz its a pop up business. Fill up your truck, then just drive it around and sell your wares.

These trucks seriously need to be regulated like regular food trucks are.

By Rwgfy on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 1:10pm.

How difficult is it to go around? It's a one-way street and tens of thousands of people biked it in the Darker Ages without a bike lane.

up
37

By cybah on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 1:15pm.

How difficult is it for the truck to find a legal spot to park? Not hard.

The biker shouldn't have to go around if the truck driver actually did their job and followed the law and NOT park in a bike lane.

up
45

By Waquiot on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 3:31pm.

And when some kid gets hit be a car while running across that street to get some ice cream, kinopio will probably not chime in about how cars shouldn't be allowed on Green Street.

Me, I'd prefer to let the truck spend 20 minutes there a few times a day. They let Boston Frosty park in the lane at the Public Garden, and that's a busier road.

up
13

By Kinopio on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 4:26pm.

You pretend to care about people's safety while advocating that a private business be allowed to break laws and endanger cyclists. There are also legal parking spots next to this park on Lamartine Street that this truck driver chooses not to use. I'd suggest informing yourself on a topic before commenting on it.

Me, I'd prefer no one be endangered and the ice cream truck screws off back to the suburbs.

By spin_o_rama on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 5:06pm.

You've hand waved away one of those law breaking instances as not a big deal.

Would you be consistent with the other?

By SwirlyGrrl on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 1:32pm.

It would be for you to stop commenting on every post.

up
34

By Friartuck on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 7:22pm.

On Truth Social and report back.

By anon on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 1:31pm.

If there’s no bikes using the bike lane why isn’t any vehicle allowed to stop for a few minutes. Probably some old complainant with zero children.

up
14

By spin_o_rama on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 3:04pm.

If there aren't pedestrians using the sidewalk, why isn't a vehicle allowed to stop there for a few minutes?

up
21

By anon on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 3:33pm.

is stupid. Would you park on the sidewalk? Bike lanes are an integral part of the roadway. Sidewalks are not.

By spin_o_rama on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 5:12pm.

Its going to blow your mind!

By Kinopio on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 4:27pm.

You aren't using your brain so I guess its fair game to store stuff inside your head.

By anon on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 1:49pm.

There is a gated-off, unused road next to this park, to the east of this park, closer to the train tracks. It would be a no-brainer to have a food truck park there to stay out of everyone’s way but serve the park easily.

By Rwgfy on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 2:45pm.

Next to an illegal off leash dog run full of aggressive dog owners? Not a great place for kiddie ice cream

By spin_o_rama on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 3:08pm.

Fabulous self-own, you just answered your question from earlier. Its all about aggression!