How Street Cleaning Works in New York City

<p>In New York City, there are no street sweepers at all. That is, no one cleans the streets with a broom in the mornings. I think this is one of the reasons why the city generally looks dirtier than Moscow. So, the streets are cleaned by special cleaning machines that pass by on average once a week. This has created a concept known as Alternate Side Parking. Special signs on each street regulate when cars must vacate the parking space for the cleaning machine to pass.</p> <p>For example, on our street, cleaning takes place on Fridays from 8:30 AM to 10 AM (or it might not happen at all). At 8:30, like clockwork, people flood the street and wait for the cleaners. As soon as the machine arrives, everyone moves their cars, lets the machine pass, and then returns. The next step is that everyone waits for the police officer, who might come at 9:59 AM (or might not come), and issues tickets to cars without drivers inside.</p>