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Today the DOT is launching a pilot program in Park Slope called "Park Smart." Drivers on parts of Seventh and Fifth Avenues will see the meter rates rise from the current $0.50 an hour to $1.50 an hour during peak hours, from noon to 4 p.m. At all other times, parking in those areas will cost $.75 an hour. The hope is that higher rates will encourage faster turnover of metered parking spots, but some motorists and retailers were ready to give their verdict before the parking could even get smart. One local tells NY1, "It's already inconvenient enough in Park Slope to find parking. It's really No Park Slope. So to make it more difficult, you know, when you do find a space, to pay more for it, I think it is a little bit obnoxious." And Crown Heights resident James Bates tells Channel 2, "Everything is costing [more]. It's not right. It's not fair." The DOT insists the program was not motivated by a need to increase revenue, and that if the Park Smart pilot is a success, other neighborhoods will lose their stupid parking.
Park Slope Paying More for Peak Parking in Pilot Program
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Whine whine whine. It's not like people won't just double-park anyway.
Why is it that when the topic is parking, everyone loses all sense of simple economics? The quote from NY1 is a perfect example of this sort of parking-specific idiocy. Clearly the reason you can't find parking in Park Slope (or much of Manhattan, for that matter) is because it's so cheap - when you get a spot for next to nothing, you have no incentive to ever give it up!
The DOT policy is the only way to create more available parking - alleviating the problem that the NY1 local is complaining it will exacerbate.
Exactly. Philly recently went to $2/hr, and parking has been easier to find. There has been a 20% year-to-year decrease in occupancy rates. Of course the economy has had some effect on that number.
There should be permit-only residential parking on the side streets of Park Slope and paying parking on the avenues. On any given day, most of the automobile traffic on Fifth or Seventh Aves. are cars from outside the neighborhood, looking for parking before shopping, dining or visiting. Why not create an incentive to use mass transit? And Seventh Ave. on a weekend? Fuhgetabouit.
Double parking, triple parking, unsignaled u-turns. It's a wonder there aren't more accidents, and a wonder there arent' more car-hits-pedestrian incidents.
And, just to head off the comments likely to follow mine: yes, I am a Park Slope "muppie"
who owns one car, uses it just once or twice a weekend and, yes, I feel entitled to keep my car on the street, but would be willing to pay the city for the privilege.
Ditto JD - free parking is not a god-given right. If people don't want to drive in circles for hours, they have the choice of parking in lots on Union Street, or near Methodist, but they don't because parking on the street is cheaper.
The whole driving in Park Slope drives me insane.
Most of the time you end up looking for a spot for the same amount of minutes as it would take you to walk OR you end up having to park in a spot that is almost as far as your apartment but in a different direction!
If you are able bodied, take public transportation, ride a bike, or WALK.
lanciano: I would think (hope) that the vast majority of driving in Park Slope is from people outside the neighborhood. I would also think (hope) that the vast majority of Slope car owners do not use their vehicles to move about the neighborhood. 'Course, it IS Park Slope, but still...
For those of you coming to Park Slope from elsewhere and circling the block forty-seven times to get a spot right off Fifth or Seventh Ave., I have a little advice. Park around 3rd Ave. Walk to your destination. Get a little exercise and reduce your stress level.
Chicago has residential parking permits in most of the denser areas of the city, and most anywhere near a train station. In my opinion, it worked wonders, except if they drew the residential boundaries too tightly and it was hard to find parking in your zone (Chicago uses zones, not just one permit for the whole city). But if there was one permit for all of Park Slope, I think it would work splendidly.
Honestly, I think the parking situation in Park Slope is way easier than it was in Chicago...IF YOU'RE JUST PARKING YOUR CAR. If you're driving it all the time for neighborhood trips, you're an idiot. But there is almost always a spot open on my street.
Yay! Another reason I can put on my mile long list of reasons why Park Slope sucks!
another reason the city will ultimately go to s@#. They will nickel and dime every aspect of your life until you give up. Parking is one thing, but rates on everything are going up thanks to the size of the city work force and their pensions. just wait until the bond rating goes down a notch and watch your income tax skyrocket as well, because god forbid they cut a damn thing.
I've given up on parking altogether. I just drive around and around and around...