Parking meters make sense when and where parking is scarce. By metering Deep Ellum during the day, when parking is not scarce, the city is running off business.
Like me-- I went down there to transact some business at a club this morning and got dinged with a $20 ticket six minutes after my meter expired.
I know, waah wahh. But I find it infuriating that six hours later I can't pay this clearly electronically generated ticket online because it isn't yet in their system. Now the damn thing's likely to fester on my desk until the City of Dallas winds up owning Pegasus News.
Then they'll really be screwed...
Looking for an illustrative image, I found this 2004 survey online. Wonder what the result was?
Comments
Elizabeth Eshelman Verified
The meter police seem to have gotten especially fierce in the last six months... or maybe it's just me and the FOUR tickets I got ... One of them was actually received as I was getting change and I cam running out with it in my hand ... "Wait, I've got change!" the officer's response? "well, you've also got a ticket."
nice...
2 years, 5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
frank Anonymous
The city is making a killing on the lunch crowd. Everyone knows it and everyone hates it. There's been talk of free parking from 8:00 AM - 10:00 pm coming into effect to help out daytime / early evening businesses. This has been in negotiations w/ City Hall for some time but hope it happens soon.
Personally I just want sit up on the roof w/a paintball gun sniper set up and let 'em have it from time to time. Either that or a brick!
'Don't follow leaders watch your parking meters' - Bob Dylan
2 years, 5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Blair Lovern Staff
I want to join Frank - I'll bring a giant slingshot for paint balloon mortar fire from way down the block and they'll never see it coming.
2 years, 5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Elizabeth Eshelman Verified
I've got my two cents on this:
From what I've heard through the Deep Ellum Association grapevine, the city has said they will give us twelve hours of free meters. Will it be 6am to 6pm, or 6pm to 6am? The choice seems obvious to this kitten:
Sure, there is a lunch crowd not to be discounted, but the main attraction to DE is the nightlife, right? (I may be wrong, this is just my experience.) "If you make the meters free, they will come." Free meters at night willultimately create a domino effect with the parking, driving down the now sky-high prices of the lots. More people will come downtown if there is more accessible parking, either at a free meter or in a more reasonably priced lot.
Maybe I'm biased because of my doorgirl stint, but I think this would be the best plan of action to help out a struggling area.
Now, the logistics of the barriers and the placement of the cops? That's a whollllllllleeee 'nother can of worms!
2 years, 5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Cindy Chaffin Verified
I'll join Blair and Frank and throw my empty beer bottles...
The only thing about free meters at night - the bands will fill up all the spaces before the fans can arrive since they have to get there early for load-in. That's good for the bands, but not so good for the fans.
I wish the city would just buy up the lots and let us pay a couple of bucks to park rather than 10-bucks.
2 years, 5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Elizabeth Eshelman Verified
Cindy - you make a good point - but I know that at Curtain/Clearview they let bands park in their Clearview or Liquid lot - One way or another, that would still free up parking, though. I agree with the buying up of the lots, but is even feasible? (I honestly don't know)
2 years, 5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
frank Anonymous
Don't think it's feasible to buy up the lots. I believe the proposed meter changes are designed to help daytime / early evening. Those folks are really dying. The concept is to get customers in early and maybe they'll stick around. After 10:00PM meter costs will double to $1.00 an hour and be in effect till morning.
Also there's a new guy down there leasing lots now. His name is Benny. He, his wife, sister inlaw and others are running the lots by Trees, Gypsy, Tarantinos and provide the valet for Dada. Good folks, not too uptight, not as expensive and almost too trusting in that it may cost them money for being so naiive. I like 'em and bought a monthly pass to support their business, first time ever. Sixty bucks, 24 / 7, but no hassles tickets etc. Tax write off too!
2 years, 5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Elizabeth Eshelman Verified
If they're planning on getting people in early and hoping they'll stick around, I gaurantee that will be a boon of parking tickets for the city - how many people come in at 7 or 8 for dinner, decide to go to a show, and remember to leave in the midst to feed their meter when it starts at 10? The city will be papered with those ominous green envelopes ...
And meter costs doubling? This is enough to make me want to find another place to go - it's hard enough to pop down there for a show without shelling out ALL of my laundry money.
2 years, 5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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