That Trader Joe's on Masonic is Just Too Darn Popular
The vanguard of a parade of 20 idling vehicles stretching up Masonic Avenue. What's the most you've seen? Larger photo of all the Hondas and Toyotas here
The Laurel Heights Trader Joe's on Masonic Avenue has "the worst parking situation known to man" according to some Yelp-ers. But it was worse before. We'll discuss that, and what you can do about the present situation (whether you're a driver, rider, or shopper), and where you can park Far from the Madding Crowd (if you're hardy enough), after the jump.
Let's go back to the long, long ago via Google Maps. Take a gander at the bird's eye view here. What you'll see in the southbound lane of Masonic is a row a parked cars, then a row of idling TJ's shoppers (directed by Master Chief, visible in the photo), and then a lane for actual traffic for drivers heading to The Richmond. But that arrangement didn't work out so hot.
So, San Francisco stepped in and eliminated street parking from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. This created a lane just for TJ's shoppers. The problem is that the line gets really long and ends up spilling into the middle lane of Masonic anyway.
Things aren't all that bad for non-shoppers, as drivers can simply get in the left lane way back on Euclid and just cruise on by. Cyclists need to be wary when they come down the crest of the hill, but they can keep up with motorized traffic so it's not too scary (unlike the other parts of this avenue, the sections that the Fix Masonic people are worried about). Of course, everybody needs to be on the lookout for all the Frogger-like jaywalkers carrying their groceries across six lanes of parked and moving cars. (Somebody is going to get hit one of these days.)
But what about you devoted fans in your cars? Is this how you want to live your life, sitting in stop and go traffic for fifteen minutes every time you want to stock up on Two (or Three or Three point Five) Buck Chuck? There are alternatives, people. Take a look at the Google Map and see if you can figure it out. Rooftop parking is probably off-limits to you, but Ralph Waldo Emerson Street typically has free street parking (but you didn't hear that from us).
And hey, they're hiring. First figure out what the terms novitiate(!) and RMT mean, and then head on over to the "In-Store Career Fair." Maybe you'll get hired and become the person who solves this traffic/parking issue.
See you at TJ's!