Thursday, September 11, 2008
Muni-parking- a boon or nightmare for local drivers?
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Spring-driven mechanical parking meters in NYC date back to 1952. The meters were often treated as nuisances, and wrecked. Some 60-70,000 mechanical meters eventually came into use, powered by a weekly wind-up. In 1995 a battery-driven electronic meter, fitting right into the strong capsule, started replacing the windups that had served well for 50 plus years. By 2006 some 62,000 meters had been automated, with a repair rate down by 85%, Meanwhile the nickels and dimes had mounted to quarters, and by 2006 the meter income for NYC reached $120M a year.
But city expenses also grew, and in 1996 the Muni-Meter arrived. Long in use in London, Paris and other European cities, it featured an unobtrusive meter at each end of a designated curb-parking block, dispensing time-stamped receipts , to be placed on the dashboards s of cars parked on the street, highlighting the expiry time.
By now some 3,000 Muni-Meters have been installed in NYC, sneaking in and making some previously parking- free neighborhoods into cost centers for householders who previously only had to worry about alternate side parking moves twice a week, Occasionally standalone new Muni-Meters are used for replacement of individual old-style parking meters, but sometimes they seem to take over an entire side of the street. Our part of the world of East Midtown, from 14th Street to 34th Streets, is bound to get more and more of them. On the south side of East 17th Street east of 3rd Ave they were sneaked in on an early Sunday morning in August, the four individual meters at the avenue end of the block quietly removed and replaced by the new stuff which is barely noticeable, consisting of a boxy ATM-like receipt dispenser, and dark blue placards attached to parking sign posts, requesting that we “pay at the Mini-Meter,” pointed out with an arrow. The beginning and end of the metered parking areas is not indicated, and you are asked to call 311 in case of problems. At 311 the agent insisted that the limits and regulations are stated, but would not explain how, “it varies.” A mysterious “green post” was described as a delimiter, but could not be identified. One 311 agent stated that meters apply only between the blue signs, but that is not true, I have seen a parking ticket on a car outside. Another 311 press relations person suggested that “end of the block’ may be the limit, or the arrows on the alternate side parking signs might be used to identify the parameters. In other words, total confusion. Woe betide the visitor who would innocently park on the block, celebrating his good luck in finding a spot, only to be surprised by a parking ticket under the windshield wiper, fining him $65, . But the good city fathers have also eased the motorists’ fine-paying burden, providing for an internet /credit card payment methodology for parking violations.
Next: is nighttime parking free? Hmm, no answer. What are the hours for Free Sundays, a liberalization granted in 1995 but not announced on signs? 311 says from 12PM Saturday to 12PM Sunday, but hearsay indicates Monday till 8AM is also free, Who’s right? One begins to have dark suspicions that the rules are deliberately left vague to keep the opportunity open, if people do not protest. to spread the metering to entire streets and raise the Department Of Transportation income stream. Look at the rates. Our residential meter boxes show $2/hr, non -renewable, although this rule is not enforceable if quarters are used. On East 19th east of Broadway the rate is $3 first hour, $5 for two, $9 for three, a case of sheer robbery. See, the plot thickens, To ease the pain you can purchase a $20, $50 or $100 Muni-Card, or use a credit card, good luck! I did not succeed.Besides escalating rates and grabbing the one free benefit of curbside parking for the poor, the city also confiscates leftover time, If you leave early, no one can slide in to use your surplus .
This column lost it ending. For continuation, see 11/18/02 column.
Spring-driven mechanical parking meters in NYC date back to 1952. The meters were often treated as nuisances, and wrecked. Some 60-70,000 mechanical meters eventually came into use, powered by a weekly wind-up. In 1995 a battery-driven electronic meter, fitting right into the strong capsule, started replacing the windups that had served well for 50 plus years. By 2006 some 62,000 meters had been automated, with a repair rate down by 85%, Meanwhile the nickels and dimes had mounted to quarters, and by 2006 the meter income for NYC reached $120M a year.
But city expenses also grew, and in 1996 the Muni-Meter arrived. Long in use in London, Paris and other European cities, it featured an unobtrusive meter at each end of a designated curb-parking block, dispensing time-stamped receipts , to be placed on the dashboards s of cars parked on the street, highlighting the expiry time.
By now some 3,000 Muni-Meters have been installed in NYC, sneaking in and making some previously parking- free neighborhoods into cost centers for householders who previously only had to worry about alternate side parking moves twice a week, Occasionally standalone new Muni-Meters are used for replacement of individual old-style parking meters, but sometimes they seem to take over an entire side of the street. Our part of the world of East Midtown, from 14th Street to 34th Streets, is bound to get more and more of them. On the south side of East 17th Street east of 3rd Ave they were sneaked in on an early Sunday morning in August, the four individual meters at the avenue end of the block quietly removed and replaced by the new stuff which is barely noticeable, consisting of a boxy ATM-like receipt dispenser, and dark blue placards attached to parking sign posts, requesting that we “pay at the Mini-Meter,” pointed out with an arrow. The beginning and end of the metered parking areas is not indicated, and you are asked to call 311 in case of problems. At 311 the agent insisted that the limits and regulations are stated, but would not explain how, “it varies.” A mysterious “green post” was described as a delimiter, but could not be identified. One 311 agent stated that meters apply only between the blue signs, but that is not true, I have seen a parking ticket on a car outside. Another 311 press relations person suggested that “end of the block’ may be the limit, or the arrows on the alternate side parking signs might be used to identify the parameters. In other words, total confusion. Woe betide the visitor who would innocently park on the block, celebrating his good luck in finding a spot, only to be surprised by a parking ticket under the windshield wiper, fining him $65, . But the good city fathers have also eased the motorists’ fine-paying burden, providing for an internet /credit card payment methodology for parking violations.
Next: is nighttime parking free? Hmm, no answer. What are the hours for Free Sundays, a liberalization granted in 1995 but not announced on signs? 311 says from 12PM Saturday to 12PM Sunday, but hearsay indicates Monday till 8AM is also free, Who’s right? One begins to have dark suspicions that the rules are deliberately left vague to keep the opportunity open, if people do not protest. to spread the metering to entire streets and raise the Department Of Transportation income stream. Look at the rates. Our residential meter boxes show $2/hr, non -renewable, although this rule is not enforceable if quarters are used. On East 19th east of Broadway the rate is $3 first hour, $5 for two, $9 for three, a case of sheer robbery. See, the plot thickens, To ease the pain you can purchase a $20, $50 or $100 Muni-Card, or use a credit card, good luck! I did not succeed.Besides escalating rates and grabbing the one free benefit of curbside parking for the poor, the city also confiscates leftover time, If you leave early, no one can slide in to use your surplus .
This column lost it ending. For continuation, see 11/18/02 column.
# posted by Wally Dobelis @ 3:22 PM 
