The story behind the viral photo of the ‘1 Minute Parking’ sign

It was a sign that embodied L.A. traffic: “1 Minute Parking.”

There it was, on San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood. Not graffiti, not a movie prop. It was real-life proof that what we Angelenos faced on the roads was beyond comprehension unless you’d actually lived it. At a glance, it showed L.A. as the epitome of gridlock and an endless search for parking spaces. Even if you didn’t live here, you could appreciate its novelty — which explains why the photo of the sign went viral last week.

Alas, it was too good to be true. The “minute” part was a misprint: It should have said “1 Hour Parking” — still difficult enough but, as a street sign, unremarkable. I happened upon the misprinted version two years ago and took a photo, and until last week I had that piece of proof in my back pocket to whip out – “No, seriously, one minute parking!” Part of me wishes it still existed. But the demise of “1 Minute Parking” has given me another unlikely story to tell.

I saw the sign when I was in Brentwood with a friend. We had been hiking and were trying to park before grabbing something to eat. As an Angeleno, I have an ingrained habit of paying close attention to any parking sign before I walk away from my car, because, well, you never know, even on the weekends.