Parking Rates 60 Cents/Hour Now.

Mar 22 08:50 UTC 1995

So there I was, enjoying my usual rant about how unfair Ann Arbor parking
policy was when, speak of the devil, I hear on the news that Ingrid Sheldon
our beloved Mayor, has just OK'ed another ten cent per hour hike in metered
parking rates, in her words, "To fund the increasing costs of maintaining
downtown street-level parking at a time when demand for such parking is high."
Funny, but was I the only person who didn't hear about the city council's vote
on this?  Did they go out of their way to publicize this "debate"?  Here's a
list of my personal grievances.  See if you can add any.

--The degree of over-charging for parking in any urban area directly impacts
  the desirability to shop/work/park in such areas. Simply put, if you want
  to kill your downtown businesses, keep jacking up the rates.

--Though attended parking structures may be slightly safer, at least one 
  restaurant owner I've spoken to says the increased length of metered hours
  at a nearby structure has cut into their evening business.  Many structures
  and attended lots downtown now charge as late as 10, 11 or even midnight.

--The so-called "grace period" of one hour post-ticketing ($3.00 if paid 
  within one hour) is a joke.  Getting downtown, finding spaces near the city
  hall (metered, of course, except for a few in front of the building) during
  hours when the cashier is there or the drive-up window is open can be an
  experience that may make the extra two dollars seem worthwhile.  Question:
  If you get ticketed at a quarter to six, how are you supposed to pay within
  on hour when all the cashiers have gone home?  Alright, so there's a
  validation clock in the front lobby, what if you don't have three dollars
  cash to stick in the envelope?

--A guy in Chicago just came up with the most brilliant device: a meter with a
  sensor which can tell when it's space is no longer occupied so that it can 
  immediately erase any residual time.  No more free minutes at the last guyys 
  expense, lot's of extra dough for the city.  We know that can't be long in 
  coming to our always well-maintained parking system.  Tell me, if they can
  come up with pleasers like this, why did I just lose 25 cents Canadian in 
  our oh-so-modern meters?  Heck, I can't count the number of U.S. coins that
  failed to buy me more than a wrist fracture from the beating I gave the meter
  when the time didn't register.  How about a meter which dispenses the differe
  difference to the parker when he leaves his space?  How about a meter-card
  like the library copiers--stick it in, meter's on, put it in again when you
  leave and it debits your card or your city parking account just like your
  water bill. Forget to punch in or out and the nice meter maid can ticket you.
  Simple enough?  We're looking for a few good geniuses...

response 2 of 145:

Mar 24 21:05 UTC 1995

gee Davroz, I like the card idea.  It makes sense. They'll never go for it.

response 4 of 145:

Mar 29 14:04 UTC 1995

Ah Brenner, that explains it.  I was having that "we're not in
Kansas anymore" feeling.  But what do accordions and parking
meters have in common.  Marcus, where are you?  We need your
wisdom to sort this one out.

(Wondering how the picodad became such an expert on accordions.)

response 6 of 145:

Mar 29 16:48 UTC 1995

Excuse me, but accordion players are only allowed in the Altar Guild
Auxiliary of Musicians. They may turn pages during recitals, they may
empty French horns during intermissions, they may look for oboe reeds
in the marshes. That's it.

No pretensions to full membership, please; it could get ugly.

response 8 of 145:

Mar 29 21:07 UTC 1995

So... In the interest of cross continent relations...
What do you California folks pay to park on the street?

response 10 of 145:

Mar 30 00:55 UTC 1995

My office here in pasadena: $10.00 max (3 hours=$10.00)

Down in front of Starbucks in Old Town  25 cents for 15 minutes. Meter.

response 12 of 145:

Mar 30 05:59 UTC 1995

You have starbucks?

response 14 of 145:

Mar 30 06:39 UTC 1995

No Starbucks. We do have two Sushi places (Fuji and Miki).

I'm glad you linked this. People will stop complaining about
another 10 cents an hour on the meters.

Oh, I should also mention rodents. We have a great supply of them here
in the woods. (I saw you mention an interest earlier.)

response 16 of 145:

Mar 30 13:30 UTC 1995

(The silver porsche figures prominently in the
Story of the Abduction of the Roden, but those
days are long gone. Gone, but not forgotten!)


IF I live in a place where I could see the Tragically Hip
in a live performance, I'd never complain about parking meters.

response 18 of 145:

Mar 30 16:53 UTC 1995

the silver porsche is lovely and nearly collectable,
AND it is not here with me in colorado, simply
because colorado Is Not Worthy.

response 20 of 145:

Mar 30 20:52 UTC 1995

If, perchance, one of us stopped by  A2, what sorts of 
things would we see and do?

response 22 of 145:

Mar 31 06:19 UTC 1995

        You forgot Thai food, and walk in the arb (more scenic than Golden
Gate park, we have a river).

response 24 of 145:

Mar 31 08:06 UTC 1995

Used book stores too?