11 responses so far ↓

• 1 joel // Jan 25, 2005 at 9:29 am

  funny - last night I was explaining what “dibs” meant to a work friend that’s originally from Kazakhstan. This was a perfect example to show him.

• 2 Benjy // Jan 25, 2005 at 9:33 am

  I saw an interesting parking space marker this morning near Elston & Irving Park. It was 2 wooden picnic table benches and one of those red & yellow Playskool cars. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me.

• 3 Edwin // Jan 25, 2005 at 9:49 am

  That’s freaking hilarious about dibs! I can’t blame em though! If I shoveled and cleared a spot, I should have the right the have dibs on it. Hopefully everyone abides by it and no real agruments come as a result. Could be worse though, you could be like us in NC making national news for being paralyzed by 1/2 inch of snow! Still amazing that it really happened! *lmao*

• 4 Brian // Jan 25, 2005 at 10:37 am

  People would claim dibs on shovelled spots all the time in Boston. Great to see it!

• 5 SamB // Jan 25, 2005 at 11:31 am

  I really don’t like the dibs idea. If I sweep a parking spot free of glass, dirt and other debris in the summer, do I have the right to call dibs?

• 6 Mike // Jan 25, 2005 at 11:52 am

  Thanks, Rachelle! That’s awesome that you remembered my request for pics of dibs. Those were great examples. What a great way to start out my day today. Sick all weekend, spent yesterday sick in bed, and then come to work to see that you remembered those dibs pics. I grew up in the Chicago area but live in the SF bay area now, so I don’t get to see the dibs system in action.

  One year ago yesterday I “discovered” your blog after some Google search for something Chicago-related, and a year later, I’m a daily reader. Keep up the great work!

• 7 joe // Jan 25, 2005 at 12:24 pm

  Dibs are cool and all, especially if it is because they shoveled out the spot themselves, but I’ve seen ridiculous cases of people calling “dibs” in the middle of the summer some places by pulling out their space, getting a lawnchair out of their trunk and putting it where their car was.

  I had an experience once at college with someone that did this. It was a crowded street and the only open spot was some spot some person had stuck their lawnchair in. I got out of my car, move the chair and parked. Some woman came out of a house that the space was near and told me she was saving the spot for her son who was coming over for dinner that night. It was about 10 a.m. at the time. I just told her “I’m sorry, I live down the road, this is the only spot on the street to park, and you don’t have any more a right to this spot than I do.” She was pissed, but what the hell? Using “dibs” in that way is just nuts. I suppose I’m lucky I didn’t get my car keyed.

• 8 Jenn in NJ // Jan 25, 2005 at 5:05 pm

  After 5 yrs in Beantown, and coming from snow-free west coast, I just always thought this was a Boston habit. Joe - I always wondered what would happen if someone just moved the markers and said, “sorry, public space”. Reminds me of the similar habit, having a friend stand in a space until you can get through traffic to park. I once pulled into a sweet spot in NYC only to have someone run up to the car and say they needed it for their moving truck (sure enough, there it was behind me). I moved.

• 9 ArthurE212 // Jan 27, 2005 at 6:30 am

  NYC - isn’t this a great way to get more plastic chairs, AND a parking spot? I’ve never seen parking space dibs in NYC. Great pictures.

• 10 Tim Q // Jan 27, 2005 at 8:05 am

  I love “dibbs”. Saw someone using an old vaccuum cleaner, and someone else using a huge sheet of L-shaped plywood leaning on a ladder. If I can find them I’ll shoot them and send them over.

• 11 rachelleb.com // Feb 1, 2005 at 9:25 pm

  Dibs on a Fire Hydrant?

  Dibs, East Ukrainian Village, Chicago Isn’t it a little past the acceptable time to be calling dibs anyway? The storm was a week ago….

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