Are ice cream trucks a neighborhood distraction?

**alaskaguy** · 05-06-2008, 12:26 AM

Unbelievable as it sounds, there is an ice cream truck that rolls the streets of Nome. I can guarantee you that nobody complains about an ice cream truck in this community. Especially when you compare an ice cream truck with the racket that snowmachines make when they roar down our streets.

However this is not the case everywhere. In Portland, Maine some consider ice cream trucks to be zoning violations- a business parcel rolling around a residential zone or have concerns about their impact on child obesity. A Portland, Maine City Counselor is concerned enough that he wants to examine this issue.

What do you think?

Link:
MaineToday.com | News Update: Portland official questions ice cream trucks

**Mr Janny** · 05-06-2008, 01:36 AM

I lived in a really crappy apartment complex in Merced, CA for a while. There were 3 different Ice Cream trucks that would come by during the day. I was working the night shift at the time, and they woke me up on a daily basis. Each one had their own specific song that they played. The first one was a nice big truck that played "The Entertainer" from the Sting. The second one was an equally impressive truck that played "Pop goes the Weasel." The kids in the neighborhood showed up in droves for both trucks. They were very popular. The third Ice Cream guy was sort of "low rent." He had a bicycle with what amounted to a big cooler on the front, and a standard bycycle bell. He was similarly popular with the kids, but for a much different reason. Whenever he would come around the kids in the complex would just pelt him in the head with pennies. They were relentless. So his song always went something like this "BRRINNGGG! BRRINGGG! OW! KNOCK IT OFF! OWW! I SAW THAT! OWW!" Scott Joplin's got nothing on that. It was hilarious. I don't think I ever saw him sell so much as a single popsicle.

**ketchupnmustard** · 05-06-2008, 08:31 AM

I thought the ice cream truck issue was brought up here in Des Moines a year or 2 ago. As far as I know they are still "Illegal" here because of concerns for child safety.

**RyCy04** · 05-06-2008, 08:39 AM

Still have them here in Omaha and no matter how many times I hear the ice cream truck I still giggle my a%% off because of Eddie Murphy "Delirious."

"Ice cream man!!! Mom!!! Throw down some money!!""

**bos** · 05-06-2008, 08:39 AM

This sucks. I great memories as a child hearing that bell and running towards, cash in hand. The icecream truck was great. Its really too bad something so fun from childhood has been villainized by todays citizens.

**jtd9046** · 05-06-2008, 08:40 AM

There is a time and a place for them. They don't need to come by everyday. Maybe once during the week and once on the weekend.

There is a truck that comes down my street every single day. In the two years that I have lived on this street I haven't seen her sell one thing! Not one. On a street of 40 houses, only 3-4 that have kids... don't you think she'd adjust her route?

**Phaedrus** · 05-06-2008, 09:35 AM

One of the neater things I've seen, are the ice cream vendors in Russia. In the winter time, they just stack the ice cream in squares on a table, and you pay for the one you want. No freezer necessary.

**ISUFan22** · 05-06-2008, 09:38 AM

Can't say I've ever seen one. Grew up on a farm - ice cream trucks just were not around.

The only ice cream truck I've seen (and love) is Schwans. It comes to my house once every 2 weeks, minus the annoying music.

**BryceC** · 05-06-2008, 09:43 AM

I could go for some Schwan's nuggets right now. They are mind-blowing.

**HandSanitizer** · 05-06-2008, 09:44 AM

IN Bondurant here is how it goes.

They make the Ice Cream guy get a background check. They approve his "static Route" around town. They let him only go down the streets with a city approved vehicle Ice Cream truck and only one time a week during certain hours. Cities really get tight about this stuff for saftey, zoning and complaing purposes. You can never make everyone happy.

**HandSanitizer** · 05-06-2008, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

I could go for some Schwan's nuggets right now. They are mind-blowing.

You got that right....

Perfect night for me would involve some Beer, A burger with some Schwan's Cheese Balls and some Schwan's Nuggets later.
..........And maybe the kids at the grandparents.

**ffelknirznarf** · 05-06-2008, 10:00 AM

I used to live in Albany, New York.

There were 2 ice cream trucks which came to my neighborhood.

They were called "Mr. Ding-A-Ling" and "Mr. Softy".

**pulse** · 05-06-2008, 10:56 AM

I don't mind the concept of ice cream trucks. There used to be one in our neighborhood that blared this annoying tune. I don't mind the truck, but I thought he was going to shatter windows with high-pitched 130 dB Pop Goes the Weasel.

**akclone** · 05-06-2008, 11:08 AM

Didn't Styx sing "Too Much Time On My Hands"?

**Cydar** · 05-06-2008, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by ffelknirznarf

I used to live in Albany, New York.

There were 2 ice cream trucks which came to my neighborhood.

They were called "Mr. Ding-A-Ling" and "Mr. Softy".

As a kid my Dad would take me outside and we would wait for the Mr. Softy truck. It's been such a long time ago but I think I use to get an ice cream sandwich almost every time. The driver let me into the truck and as a kid it was an awesome experience.

Now in retrospect I guess it's not a good thing to have the name Mr. Softy...