FREAK Shots: The Sacred Hydrant

Freakonomics reader Rich Beckman took this photo in Washington, D.C. on the grounds of the Capitol building:

Photo: Rich Beckman

Then he asks a natural question: “If the hydrant isn’t working, what does it matter if someone parks there?”

Dubner asked a similar question on this blog: why is parking in front of fire hydrants prohibited in the first place (hoses are flexible for a reason), especially as parking becomes a rare commodity?

Maybe as a start, hydrant spots — following RexCorp’s example — can be reserved for hybrid drivers only.

(Send your FREAK-worthy photos here.)