#space-savers

#space-savers

A cone, a chair, a random household item - in Boston, any one of these can turn into a "dibs" sign after a snowstorm. Space savers are one of the city's most stubborn winter traditions, and one of the quickest ways to start an argument on a narrow street. After the weekend's storm, we asked Boston.com readers whether they feel space savers should be respected or ignored. Many said they'll honor the effort after a major storm - especially when digging out can take hours.

Boston's collective creativity shines brightest when heavy snow blankets the city, leaving residents scrambling for space savers to mark their territory. And needless to say, space savers were out in full force following last weekend's blizzard, from a jubilant chef statue to traffic cones, folding chairs, and even a commode. It's a cutthroat business, after all: those who steal someone else's shoveled-out parking space may run the risk of angry notes, slashed tires, or physical blows.