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Item No. 18 <br />Memorandum <br />TO: Grayson Path, City Manager <br />FROM: Andrew Mack, Director of Planning and Development <br />Cheri Bedford, Main Street Manager <br />SUBJECT: Back in Angle Parking <br />DATE: June 20, 2023 <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The City of Paris hosted the Regional Plan for Health Conference in August of 2022. This <br />conference focused on city walkability and pedestrian safety by connecting citizens to every day <br />destinations through walking and biking. The information received is being evaluated for a <br />proposed update to the city's comprehensive plan. One of the recommendations that came out of <br />the conference was to consider a back in angle parking trial on a short term basis. In addition, <br />following the conclusion of the downtown STOP sign study, an ad hoc Downtown Traffic <br />Committee was formed to study additional measures that can be taken to help make the downtown <br />safer for pedestrians and traffic. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem serve on this committee. The <br />back -in angle parking is an item of study that this committee is seeking to pursue. <br />Back -in angle parking is considered a safer alternative to front -in angle parking for the public for <br />the following reasons: <br />1. Back -in angle parking is a safer position for driver and passengers to enter and exit the <br />vehicle when going to and from the sidewalk. Back -in angle parked car doors, trunks and <br />hatches open to the sidewalk instead of the street <br />2. Back -in angle parking provides drivers with better vision of pedestrians, bicycles, and other <br />motor vehicles as they exit a parking space and enter moving traffic. <br />3. Back -in angle parked cars can drive onto the drive lane efficiently without backing out <br />blindly into oncoming traffic. <br />4. Back -in angle parking reduces accidents. <br />5. Back -in angle parking is easier than parallel parking by requiring 1 less turning movement. <br />STATUS OF ISSUE: <br />Based on previous information provided to the City Council, the Back in Angle Parking trial will <br />begin on Friday July 7, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. on the west side of the plaza. <br />