San Francisco Municipal Parking Assistance Corps

Of the many types of San Francisco street crazies, one of the most rapidly growing segments is the volunteer parking helper. He's standing in the street in front of oncoming traffic, directing cars into empty parking spaces, in hopes of earning a handout. Some of these are more crazy than others, imagining that they are some sort of air traffic control for street parking, jabbering and gesticulating wildly. Others are seemingly sober and pleasant, with a smile and a 'god bless'.

Telling the crazies from the rest of us on the streets is getting harder and harder thanks to bluetooth headsets and people who are obsessed with talking on the phone. No longer is a lone someone talking out loud a certifiable loon....

Comments

[Jan]

Around 2001 or so, I noticed a lot of otherwise sane-looking, clean, decently-dressed people walking around Cambridge having conversations with themselves, and I distinctly remember thinking that crazy was going up-market.

And then I saw Doc walking down Main street talking to himself, and it finally clicked. Cellphone headset. D'oh.

[Nate]

Hey, you're back! Nice to hear from you again!