Difference between revisions of "Stoyanshik (Georgia)"

The author’s fieldwork (conducted in summer 2015) revealed that neither drivers nor the stoyanshiki named the threat of car theft as a reason for car guarding. Nevertheless, stoyanshiki continue to operate to the present day, but their role has adapted to the new circumstances. There are no official or other forms of data concerning the number of stoyanshiki in Tbilisi, although fieldwork informants interviewed by the author estimate that there are at least a few thousand stoyanshiki in the city. It is notable that every important parking spot in the city has an informal car guard safeguarding the place. They are mostly concentrated around parking spaces with high car turnover, such as banks, shopping centres, state institutions, bars and entertainment centres. In central districts of the city, parking slots are extremely scarce and the cars are often parked behind each other, blocking cars in. In such cases, stoyanshiki collect drivers' phone numbers or even store the car keys themselves, so that they can either call the driver to move the car or move it themselves. Sometimes the cars are parked so tightly that the stoyanshiki's presence is also necessary to ensure that a car drives off safely, without damaging the other parked cars.

The author’s fieldwork (conducted in summer 2015) revealed that neither drivers nor the stoyanshiki named the threat of car theft as a reason for car guarding. Nevertheless, stoyanshiki continue to operate to the present day, but their role has adapted to the new circumstances. There are no official or other forms of data concerning the number of stoyanshiki in Tbilisi, although fieldwork informants interviewed by the author estimate that there are at least a few thousand stoyanshiki in the city. It is notable that every important parking spot in the city has an informal car guard safeguarding the place. They are mostly concentrated around parking spaces with high car turnover, such as banks, shopping centres, state institutions, bars and entertainment centres. In central districts of the city, parking slots are extremely scarce and the cars are often parked behind each other, blocking cars in. In such cases, stoyanshiki collect drivers' phone numbers or even store the car keys themselves, so that they can either call the driver to move the car or move it themselves. Sometimes the cars are parked so tightly that the stoyanshiki's presence is also necessary to ensure that a car drives off safely, without damaging the other parked cars.

Nevertheless, at the majority of parking spaces, drivers can easily park and drive off without the help of a stoyanshik. Stoyanshiki often underline that tips are voluntary. They do not try to force drivers to pay tips, and indeed do not have any means to attempt to do so. They do report that, despite the existence of free riders, most drivers do tend to pay tips. As a rule, stoyanshiki tend to stay at parking spots throughout the day (working for more than 10-12 hours) and do not report having any other job. Thus, car-guarding is their main means of generating income, and would appear to generate sufficient income for them to earn a living.

Nevertheless, at the majority of parking spaces, drivers can easily park and drive off without the help of a stoyanshik. Stoyanshiki often underline that tips are voluntary. They do not try to force drivers to pay tips, and indeed do not have any means to attempt to do so. They do report that, despite the existence of free riders, most drivers do tend to pay tips. As a rule, stoyanshiki tend to stay at parking spots throughout the day (working for more than 10-12 hours) and do not report having any other job. Thus, car-guarding is their main means of generating income, and would appear to generate sufficient income for them to earn a living.