Starting November 1st in the neighborhood of Pacific Beach along Garnett Avenue, the city has implemented an hourly parking system. The city invested $80,000 in this pilot program as they changed over 200 parking spots that used to be free. Now they are charging customers $1.25 an hour to use. Both residents and workers of the surrounding area were mad and frustrated at that decision by the city.
The city argued the following:
“Future parking meter revenues can also be used to pay for various projects that address parking demand and mobility, she said. This includes bike parking, parking studies and alterations, enhanced lighting, and pedestrian improvements.”
But what if I were to tell you that, implementing a pay-to-parking system can have a strong positive impact on the local economy?
The argument can be made that there is a new revenue path that is being generated through each of the individual parking machines, however, I am focusing on another perspective of this new system change.
Parking Space Turnover.
Charging for parking encourages turnover and ensures that parking spaces are utilized efficiently. As well as it helps to reduce the around of parking congestion in busy areas.
According to a study of a 15-block area in Los Angeles’ Westwood Village, cars were found to have traveled about 950,000 miles annually just cruising for parking, burning over 45,000 gallons of gasoline and emitting over 700 tons of carbon dioxide.
Instead of potential customers utilizing the prime parking spaces in front of the businesses and leaving their vehicles there for extended periods, simply because those parking spaces are free. Now once customers are being charged on an hourly rate for those prime spots, it will encourage most individuals who do not wish to pay for the spots.
Paid parking encourages people to park for shorter durations, facilitating a better flow of traffic. This will make it easier for individuals who wish to shop at these local shops with a greater opportunity to find a spot. Allowing more people to shop there
As the inflation rate in California has been 8% in 2023, consumers have been feeling the burden of all items increasing their price and now some argue that this is another unexpected cost that consumers will need to cover.
I would love to hear anyone else’s insight below, feel free to either leave a comment below or we can have a conversation via email!
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