Yesterday on my home from work, I heard the shouts of happy children playing. One girl was on a bicycle, another on skates, and another was running; they seemed to be greatly enjoying themselves. My dog and I were walking down the middle of the quiet street, but the occasional passing car makes street play difficult; these children were playing inside the parking lot of an apartment building. Such play is typically frowned upon, as the building residents worry that their cars will be damaged. An entire street consecrated to cars despite light traffic, children forced to play in a parking lot. And this we consider normal.