What’s Your Angle, Bloomfield? Parking Pilot Launched In Township

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Would angled parking help make parking safer and easier in Bloomfield? That’s what a new pilot program hopes to find out.

Bloomfield officials recently kicked off a pilot program on Broad Street between Bloomfield Avenue and Liberty Street. The program will last for six months, but if it’s successful, the angled parking spots will become permanent.

Here’s the theory, town officials said:

“In a township traffic study conducted by traffic engineers, it was determined that by adding angled parking to this area, it would increase safety and open up additional parking spots. With this method of parking, car doors would no longer open towards traffic and getting out of a space will be much easier because the driver would be facing oncoming traffic.”

In the video below, Bloomfield Police Lieutenant Naomi Zepeda demonstrates how to properly pull into the new angled spots. Drivers must pull in front of the spot they wish to park in, put their blinker on to indicate they are going to park, and then carefully back into the parking space.

It takes a little bit of practice for those who haven’t done it before, Township Administrator Mathew Watkins said.

“We will be assisting our residents with getting in and out of those spots,” Watkins said. “We will have a parking attendant at the location to assist, and we have erected new signs with the hope that the benefit will pay off after the trial period.”

“We are always searching for better ways to provide parking, especially in our main shopping area,” Mayor Michael Venezia said. “We have seen in other communities that reverse angle parking provides a safer way to access a vehicle and exit a parking spot.”

“One of the most important features that I saw with this new way of parking is that it’s easier and safer for parents with little children,” Venezia said.

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