topic Re: Free Parking ! in Community Chat

Free Parking !

aj1980 — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:12:18 GMT

Why do we need to pay to park? You want us to come to your events, establishments etc but if its downtown you have to pay to park. Maybe True that on Sundays some meters are free However, I feel that during this time of year parking should be free. Where does the money go? I saw a sign charging $50 to go to the football game. A garage doesnt need upkeep. No wonder people are more likely to shop /stay at home. If I'm being ridiculous I am sorry

Re: Free Parking !

SilleeMee — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:23:16 GMT

Parking areas including garages do indeed need upkeep as well as needing security.

Have you ever looked at what some of the vehicles (and the drivers) leave behind? Some of it can be hazardous.

Re: Free Parking !

Venezia — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:23:19 GMT

@aj1980 - First of all, I have no idea where you are or what the parking fees are.

However, "a garage doesn't need upkeep"? It most certainly does. Or would you have the owner(s) of the garage let it deteriorate to the point that it collapses? (And then be sued for negligence?) Any man-made structure needs upkeep. Including roads, bridges, sidewalks, buildings, etc.

I doubt the businesses are collecting those parking fees (private venues like a football stadium excluded). That would be the city/town/county. How do you think they maintain the infrastructure?

I agree that sometimes it's annoying to have to pay for parking, but that's the reality. The only quibble I have is the one thing you touched on - private venues charging you for a ticket and then charging you, if you want to park there. That seems to be pretty common these days and that makes me stay away. Ticket prices for anything like a game or concert are already high enough. However, they get away with it, because people have little choice except to stay home.

Re: Free Parking !

Love my grandkids — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:27:32 GMT

@aj1980 Do some research and you'll find out why it costs money to park. Educate yourself on these matters.

Re: Free Parking !

Tori3569 — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:33:21 GMT

Most venues don't own or operate the parking lots. There are parking management companies that own and operate, so the fees don't always go back to the team, stadium, venue, etc.

So, besides the upkeep absolutely needed, there is the monthly lease to pay, maintenance of whatever payment type they use as well as employees.

Re: Free Parking !

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:36:13 GMT

"What the market will bear."

Re: Free Parking !

Mombo1 — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:47:05 GMT

@aj1980 wrote:
Why do we need to pay to park? You want us to come to your events, establishments etc but if its downtown you have to pay to park. Maybe True that on Sundays some meters are free However, I feel that during this time of year parking should be free. Where does the money go? I saw a sign charging $50 to go to the football game. A garage doesnt need upkeep. No wonder people are more likely to shop /stay at home. If I'm being ridiculous I am sorry

@aj1980 I guess it depends on where you live... I am in a college town. Just went through town today. The parking meters on the Main Street are all covered with a red bag and bow. They do this every Christmas season. It looks nice and the small businesses and patrons of the shops appreciate the gesture.

Re: Free Parking !

on the bay — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:52:40 GMT

I was really surprised when a hotel charged for parking even for overnight guests or those staying several days.

That just seemed so unwelcoming and tacky.

But nothing to do as the out of town wedding guests were already staying there. We lived close so were lucky.

And it was a lot everyday too!

After that I knew I would never stay at a hotel that not only charged for a room but also to use the parking garage and I don't care who it is managed by the hotel or another company. That is just poor marketing and management strategy.

But to some, they will not care.

It is exactly what the market will bear as @deepwaterdotter said and always is.

A sweater for $90 or a sweater for $12-could be the same sweater. Who will stay at the hotel and who will not? Or buy a ticket and then pay for parking.

Re: Free Parking !

Nightowlz — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:59:47 GMT

Around here the individual that owns the lot gets the money. When I worked downtown in the 70's I had to pay to park to go to work 5 days a week. There was no free parking.

Re: Free Parking !

catter70 — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 19:54:25 GMT

Where my local hospital is located the boro has parking meters. Just another money maker for that boro.

Re: Free Parking !

Kachina624 — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 22:27:10 GMT

@aj1980. Why not charge to park when there are stores like Costco that charge you to shop there while they also make a fat profit?

Re: Free Parking !

Ronettes — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 21:29:23 GMT

I find the hospital parking lots to be the absolute worst -

When my husband was hospitalized this past year for quite some time, I started taking the bus.

It was less stressful to let someone else do the driving, and for seventy-five cents each way, much less expensive.

The parking lots were horrendously high, charging per hour.

I understand upkeep / maintenance, etc., but I thought it could be more of a moderate charge.

Re: Free Parking !

PinkyPetunia — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 23:48:50 GMT

Hotels have numerous upcharges: parking, internet access, resort fee. They charge because they can. Hotels maximize revenue this way.

Re: Free Parking !

AZfem — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 23:53:23 GMT

@aj1980 Do you have no public transit? We can & do take light rail or a bus to downtown. Also Uber, Lyft. The privately owned lots always raise the parking prices big time when there's a big event downtown.

Have worked downtown in 2 large cities & everyone took the bus or other transit to work. Too expensive otherwise & sometimes you couldn't even find a parking spot.

Re: Free Parking !

sandy53 — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:01:08 GMT

My small city took the downtown parking meters out this past year. The downtown businesses complained to the city that the meters were hurting business. I guess they have clout.

Today in our capitol city I paid $12 to park at the venue for Disney on Ice. We crowded all 8 of us in the minivan so we'd only have to pay for one vehicle. It seems like with the price of tickets the parking should be included.

Re: Free Parking !

Mindy D — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 18:05:28 GMT

Owners of parking lots pay for the purchase of the lots, pay taxes, pay for upkeep and repairs, pay for insurance, may pay rent if they don't own the land and often pay for staff to work there or monitor the lot. It's not cheap.

Re: Free Parking !

Stray — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 20:40:56 GMT

I live in a small town & parking is by permit & the meters are covered for the holiday season.

I worked in NYC all my career & parking costs are horrendous but there is a good subway system as an alternative.

There is a lot of maintenance for garages: staff, benefits, security camera system, probably high insurance. General repairs, inspection's, licenses