In the last string of posts which got horrendously long regarding the Michaan recall there were many who were sticklers regarding parking tickets.

Here is a clip from a recent Montclarion,”…
Indeed, a meter on 29th Street yielded the expected results: 15 minutes for 50 cents paid. But another meter registered 20 minutes for 50 cents. A meter nearby on 28th and Summit ran out 20 seconds early after three tries. The next meter took 25 cents but only registered two minutes and the time ran out 30 seconds early.

Farther down, at 24th Street, a meter leaning about a foot toward the ground took two quarters but provided only two minutes. “Shake it real well and a ‘fail’ sign will pop up,” said Jack Perialas, who lives nearby. But the quarters were gone — a dilemma if motorists run out of change.”

I wonder is that meter handicap accessible? If the city is not going to give you a grace period shouldn’t they be held to the same standard by providing accurate meters?

I have also complained about the absurd complaint procedure- I received a ticket in Dec 08, I believe it was issued in error and appealed that decision, now almost 11 months later they have denied my appeal citing no actual reason. Of course I will appeal by mail again but the city demands you respond to them in 21 days, or the fines actually go up astronomically (it actually makes banks look kind) they double after 21 days and go up from there even.

To Oakie:

You are correct. In fact the redevelopment agency is buying large tracts in order to put big box stores with free and ample parking.

I am copying your quote just so everybody sees it again.
Thomas Jefferson said that government should be frugal and wise. Our city government is neither.

I have not actually taken the train all the way to SFO, but my random observations in SF suggested that there were fair numbers of tourist types with luggage, and very few business looking types. But your cabbie could be right, although I am not sure how he knows either.

under shoup’s theory, what would the reason be to reduce parking fees in areas where there is plenty of avail parking? doubt if it would have any effect on usage there? eg stretches of upper bway are empty now of parked cars and would continue to be empty if parking were free.

The business types flying out of OAK aren’t taking BART, they are taking cabs, limos and driving. All far more time efficient, and when you are on an expense account, the cost doesn’t matter. You see the same thing with BART to SFO, it isn’t business types using it.

as insanely cost ineffective the oac is, i can just picture typical suit with carry on bag clutched white knuckled tight as the bus stops in east o, with the commuter staring out the window and the residents of east o staring in. maybe the best solution is nothing until east o improves on its own.

Any business would have been monitoring from the day the meter rates were increased to see if revenue was tracking to expectations. This is one of the very first things that has to be done to see if the meters are priced correctly, and is needed for the report in the fall that was requested by cc back in June about the impacts of the rate increases. There is no indication that city staff is doing any such thing.

There are two key components in Shoup’s methodology:
1. Parking revenue is returned to the business district
2. Parking fees are set at market price level to keep regular turnover of parking slots

The city didn’t do #1. Council made clear the purpose of the increase was to fund programs completely unrelated to the needs of merchants in the district.

With regard to #2, it isn’t clear that a parking shortgage even exists. At least, that has been my experience in the admitedly few times I drive there (particularly during the hours in question).

Finally, it is never a good idea to use the municipal court system as a means of revenue enhancement. When council says they intend to raise parking fees, they aren’t talking about $2/hr meter revenue (which doesn’t even cover costs of collection). They mean parking fines and even more overzealous enforcement. There is an inherent conflict of interest when meter maids operate purely out of profit motive, instead of facilitating the flow of traffic.

Ultimately, if overzealous enforcement drives out established business, that doesn’t help anyone — esp. if it drives business out to parking malls where the only traffic patrols are rent-a-cops making sure patron cars aren’t vandalized.

-len raphael
temescal