Standing, Stopping and Parking in the US

[Jonathan Lighter]

"No Standing" signs have been common in NYC for as long as I can remember, and an older relative tells me they were already in place by the mid-40s.  I was told as a child that "Standing" means parking while remaining in the vehicle or leaving someone else in it.  Not identical to the official definition below, but close enough for most situations, one would think.

JL

Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM> wrote:
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Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Benjamin Barrett
Subject: Standing, Stopping and Parking in the US
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I noticed this past year or so a "No Standing" sign in Seattle. I'd never
seen one before except in Canada. The meaning was never clear to me, so I
avoided those areas.

A thread on Honyaku indicates that this use of "standing" exists in other
areas of the US, though not commonly:

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From: honyaku at yahoogroups.com [mailto:honyaku at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Nora Stevens Heath
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 6:59 AM

We have them in Michigan, automotive capital of the U.S. (the world?), and
I'm sure I've seen them elsewhere, like possibly Ontario and New Zealand.
Our signs bear a combination of the phrases NO STOPPING, NO STANDING, NO
PARKING as they appear to do in Australia. It's the ones at airports that
say LOADING ZONE.
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From: honyaku at yahoogroups.com [mailto:honyaku at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Warren Smith
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 9:29 PM

Oddly, I disagree with your observations on both counts.

I hear "quarter of" regularly on the east coast, and recall it from my
childhood on the west.

I recall asking my parents, when I was quite small, the difference between
"stopping," "standing," and "parking" when I saw a "No Standing" sign in LA.
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From: honyaku at yahoogroups.com [mailto:honyaku at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Jim Breen
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 5:13 AM

Never? Glance at http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter07-manual.htm
where the State of New York tells learner drivers "You should also know
where parking is illegal and what NO PARKING, NO STANDING and NO STOPPING
signs mean." And later "A NO STANDING sign means you may stop only
temporarily to load or unload passengers."

According to http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter211/s211.231.html
such signs are possible in Pennsylvania. And
http://www.marylandroads.com/businesswithsha/bizStdsSpecs/desManualStdPub/pu
blicationsonline/oots/internet_signbook.asp indicates they exist in Maryland
too. Maybe they are an East coast thing in the US.
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The definition of standing as opposed to parking and stopping in Australia
is as follows:

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From: honyaku at yahoogroups.com [mailto:honyaku at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Kenji Tanaka
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 1:27 AM

In Australia, there are three different definitions.
"No Stopping" You are not allowed to stop your car at all where thus
indicated.
"No Standing" I forget details but you are allowed to stop your car as long
as you stay within 2 or 3 metres radius from your car. Basically for the
purpose of collecting or dropping passenger(s) or material(s).
"No Parking" If you stop your can and go away beyond the distance specified
in "No Standing" rule.
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Benjamin Barrett
Baking the World a Better Place
www.hiroki.us


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