New York, Minneapolis, Craigslist

The latest project from Proximity Chicago is causing quite a stir, locally and nationally. Winters in Chicago bring traditions beyond those of a feel-good holiday nature; traditions such as “dibs”, the practice of saving a parking spot after it’s been shoveled out of the snow by placing chairs or other sundry items in the street. Proximity launched Chair Free Chicago to allow like-minded Chicagoans to take a stand against the illegal practice many find frustrating. The community effort is supported by www.ChairFreeChicago.org, a website that includes downloadable, printable signage, a contact form for discouraged Chicagoans to voice their opinion to their alderman, and a photo gallery of the Chair Free outreach in action. Fliers were created, which reflect the various levels of frustration Chicagoans feel about the issue. The fliers are meant to be printed out and placed on the chairs or other objects that have been left in the street to save parking spots.