Parking Meters

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Saw in another thread.

Here in LA they're making parking meters much more expensive and extending the hours. While they use to be 15 minutes for 25 cents and end at 6pm, now its 7 minutes for a quarter ($2.00 an hour) for street parking and some are going until like 8pm or 9pm.

The end result? businesses in high traffic areas are being hit. I'm using more pay lots or valet versus street parking because I just don't carry that many quaters in my car.

 

[PapaG]

Portland is $.25 for 12 minutes with most meters at 90 minutes and the maximum at 5 hours. We also have to walk to a meter station now and put a sticker on our window. Lots of fun while wearing a suit downtown.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

I actually like the sticker machines because you can use your cards to pay for them. They are starting to use the machines here but you can't use a card I think....and it only reserves per space with a countdown...no stickers.

I hear this is having an effect on small businesses though.....

 

[PapaG]

I actually like the sticker machines because you can use your cards to pay for them.

I hear this is having an effect on small businesses though.....

Well, it sucks when there is rain dumping down on you and you have to walk a half block and back just to pay your meter.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

oh yeah..it rains in Portland.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_11797407

Brother, can you spare a dime?

Or how about $1 - in quarters?

The economy's in a hole. Consumers and mom-and-

pop shops alike are struggling to stay afloat.

And now, parking meter rates in downtown San Pedro have quadrupled.

"This is going to hurt," said Jerry Gusha, owner of Williams' Bookstore.

The 300 percent hike - from 25 cents an hour to $1 an hour - is part of a citywide parking meter increase proposed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for the city's 2007-08 budget that was unanimously approved by the Los Angeles City Council.

"The mayor proposed it as a way to close the

$400 million deficit," said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn. "According to the mayor's figures, it is supposed to bring in $18 million."

While rates are much higher in other parts of the city - $4 an hour in downtown Los Angeles - the increase is the first in 17 years and is causing sticker shock among local business owners and shoppers.

Meters in much of San Pedro's quaint shopping district were altered this week to reflect the change.

"Nobody's happy with it," said David Juarez, the chef at the Whale and Ale Pub.

Restaurants are being hit especially hard. Under the old quarter-an-hour system, parking was free at metered spaces after 5 or 6 p.m., depending on the street.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

oh. and I fucking hate meter maids.

 

[Nate Dogg]

If its $4 an hour, I would rather find a parking garage that charges $12 for the night til 2 am and walk a few blocks.