Much has been in made in the last week of the bill passed by the New
York City Council that would eliminate the need to feed parking meters
on Sundays. Mayor Bloomberg has been against this from the beginning
and has vowed to veto the legislation, but mayoral aides acknowledge
that they would likely not have the necessary votes to defeat an almost
certain override. The vote in favor of the bill was 41 to 3. Both Mayor Bloomberg and Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall
have stated that many council members signed on to the bill because of
election-year politics. But is the elimination of Sunday parking meters merely a political ploy or
will it really help New Yorkers? Here are some interesting things to consider: * In separate statements regarding eliminating the need to put money
in the meters on Sundays, Mayor Bloomberg has said that it will cost the
city $7 million in annual revenues from the meters, while Commissioner
Weinshall has put the number at $12 million a year. Wouldn't one think
that these figures should be more consistent? * Whether city $7 million or $12 million, the figure is a mere fraction of
the $500 million that the city reaps annually from parking
tickets. Commissioner Weinshall has stated "The purpose of meters, regardless
of which day they are in effect, is to turn over parking spaces so that
more customers and other individuals can gain access to a particular
parking spot in busy commercial areas". High turnover, she added,
made it easier for motorists to find parking spaces and reduced
illegal parking in bus stops and at fire hydrants. These statements raise an intriguing question: * Judging by Commissioner Weinshall's remarks that free metered
parking on Sundays will increase illegal parking, shouldn't the
officials concerned with the city's revenue be rejoicing, considering that
the city will earn much more money from an increase in parking tickets
than it will lose from a decrease in meter revenue? Up until 2002, metered parking was for the most part free on Sundays.
Was the situation regarding low turnover and motorists hogging parking
spaces so dire in "the good old days"? Not according to the Rev. John Boyd, Sr., a pastor of New Greater Bethel
Ministries in Queens Village. He states that the argument that drivers
who hog spaces manipulate meters is incorrect - he's noticed more
problems at his Jamaica Avenue church since the Sunday rules were
implemented. "I didn't have half the problems I'm having now," said Boyd. Metered parking on Sundays in NYC is expected to become a thing of
the past some time in September. Erik Feder is "The Parking Expert"; he has done extensive research
on the Manhattan parking scene, including driving on every single street
in Manhattan and writing down the parking regulations on each and
every sign. He is available for interview, commentary or quotation.
Consider using Erik as a source when any issue regarding parking in
NYC arises. Copyright 2005 - Article may be non-exclusively reprinted (in its
entirety or as a sidebar to another story) provided that a link to the
following URL is included: http://www.WhereToParkManhattan.com For more information, contact: Rhythmo Productions
525 East Olive Street
Long Beach, NY 11561
1-877-412-PARK (877-412-7275)
info@federguide.com
http://www.wheretoparkmanhattan.com
|
Categories 
