Cars Parked on Residential Street, New York State, circa 1915

Curbside parking generally wasn't a problem on quiet residential streets like the one seen here, but it could be a nuisance in crowded cities. Parked cars effectively narrowed the roadway, which restricted traffic flow. Limits on curbside parking improved traffic, but they annoyed business owners by discouraging customers. Coin-operated parking meters, introduced in the mid-1930s, helped solve the dilemma.