Wahconah Street: Is This a Turning Lane or Parking?

So this article was inspired by a post I saw on a Pittsfield Facebook page where many citizens had the same questions I did about a section of Wahconah Street.

If you're heading Southeast on Wahconah Street and pass Wahconah Park on your right you'll eventually come to Hudpucker's, Viale Florist and Vong's at the corner of Seymour Street.

You'll notice that lane is wide, wide enough, in fact, for a driver to pass on the right someone headed up Wahconah, or just travel in that designated parking zone and onto Seymour.

The problem is - there is no marked parking spaces showing that this is for curbside parking - no marking at all showing that this area is not for travel - no white lines.

There probably was one at one point but has since faded and the city needs to repaint the lines in order to prevent the following situation again.

Here was the original post:

I wanted to share a lesson from a recent accident I was involved in at this intersection. Many drivers use the curbside area as a right-turn lane, but it is actually posted as a parking zone and not marked as a dedicated turn lane. I was making a right turn from the proper travel lane with my signal on when another vehicle came up on the right through that parking area. We collided while turning. After reviewing the accident, the insurance companies determined that I was not at fault. The other driver's claim was denied, and they were left responsible for their own damages. -Facebook post

This person crashed into another vehicle who was probably unknowingly driving through what are supposed to be marked parking spots. To be fair there are signs that say "90 minute parking" along that section, but who is looking at those signs for guidance, the line painting on the road makes all the difference. If was found at fault due to this reason, I'd be upset too!