Comments on: Pay Here to Park for Free http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: EKap392 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-30116 EKap392 Wed, 21 Mar 2007 04:02:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/#comment-30116 I currently use the New York City based service http://www.nycgarages.com whenever I'm looking for parking. It compares all parking rates and locations. I currently use the New York City based service http://www.nycgarages.com whenever I’m looking for parking. It compares all parking rates and locations.

]]> By: david thompson http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-29889 david thompson Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:42:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/#comment-29889 Riddle: "How can you tell that someone lives and owns a car in New York City (or any city)? A person who can detect the difference - from around corner or blocks away - between sound made by a closing Car Door(s), that has People in it... or the Car being Empty!" Get it? Riddle: “How can you tell that someone lives and owns a car in New York City (or any city)? A person who can detect the difference – from around corner or blocks away – between sound made by a closing Car Door(s), that has People in it… or the Car being Empty!” Get it?

]]> By: jenb http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-29633 jenb Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:34:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/#comment-29633 I agree with Mattio, they are NOT selling "the space" only access to the departure time info of the person who has it. If people pay attention to their website they'll see that SpotScout guarantees garage and private spaces, but they cannot guarantee public at all, because there's no ability to reserve it legally, only to find it. I think it's pretty smart actually. I can't wait to try it. I agree with Mattio, they are NOT selling “the space” only access to the departure time info of the person who has it. If people pay attention to their website they’ll see that SpotScout guarantees garage and private spaces, but they cannot guarantee public at all, because there’s no ability to reserve it legally, only to find it. I think it’s pretty smart actually. I can’t wait to try it.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-29629 Glenn Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:30:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/#comment-29629 I'm reminded by rlb's last comment about offstreet parking that in many cities there are electronic signs posted directing drivers to off street parking facilities showing the number of parking spaces available at a given nearby lot. This works well to lure people off the street, especially when the hourly price is low. I’m reminded by rlb’s last comment about offstreet parking that in many cities there are electronic signs posted directing drivers to off street parking facilities showing the number of parking spaces available at a given nearby lot. This works well to lure people off the street, especially when the hourly price is low.

]]> By: rlb http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-29627 rlb Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:57:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/#comment-29627 In terms of on-street parking, I feel like SpotScout's plan overlooks reality: How often does someone accurately predict exactly what time they are going to leave a spot? If they leave two minutes early, that spot's going to be taken by the time that paying sucker gets there. This failure seems particularly likely for parking in a neighbourhood where someone would want the service because parking is in high demand as a result of many people looking for a space. So the smart SpotScout-er says "I'll get there five minutes early just in case." They then proceed to wait double parked for who knows how long as there prospective leaver decides he/she wants some ice cream after spending an extra five minutes in the sauna. Don't seem worth it to me, but maybe it would have some hidden value for off street parking. In terms of on-street parking, I feel like SpotScout’s plan overlooks reality:
How often does someone accurately predict exactly what time they are going to leave a spot? If they leave two minutes early, that spot’s going to be taken by the time that paying sucker gets there. This failure seems particularly likely for parking in a neighbourhood where someone would want the service because parking is in high demand as a result of many people looking for a space.
So the smart SpotScout-er says “I’ll get there five minutes early just in case.” They then proceed to wait double parked for who knows how long as there prospective leaver decides he/she wants some ice cream after spending an extra five minutes in the sauna.
Don’t seem worth it to me, but maybe it would have some hidden value for off street parking.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-29625 Glenn Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:39:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/#comment-29625 What this shows is a strong willingness to pay for scarce parking. People sometimes do need to use a car and they want to be able to quickly get off the road and park it. My question about this cellphone or PDA service is that this seems like a new and more dangerous distraction to drivers. I love that in the screenshot you posted how they both have their hands poised to honk their car horns. Even after yelling at each other, they resort to honking as a form of communication to express their anger and frustration. What this shows is a strong willingness to pay for scarce parking. People sometimes do need to use a car and they want to be able to quickly get off the road and park it.

My question about this cellphone or PDA service is that this seems like a new and more dangerous distraction to drivers.

I love that in the screenshot you posted how they both have their hands poised to honk their car horns. Even after yelling at each other, they resort to honking as a form of communication to express their anger and frustration.

]]> By: mattio http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-29624 mattio Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:32:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/#comment-29624 Gary Roth's comments are interesting, but I don't think they're right on. People aren't selling parking spaces, nor are people buying parking spaces. They are *buying* information, and the services are selling the organization of that information. Which is not terribly different from what happens currently - the low-tech way. People spend money cruising around, aquiring information, looking for the right piece of information. But nobody is selling the access to *that* information - not until congestion pricing, anyway. It's absurd, of course. The fact that people would pay for a tip on a parking space shows the ridiculous, misguided, nonsystematic ways of uncomfortably adjusting to a set of serious problems. Gary Roth’s comments are interesting, but I don’t think they’re right on. People aren’t selling parking spaces, nor are people buying parking spaces. They are *buying* information, and the services are selling the organization of that information.

Which is not terribly different from what happens currently – the low-tech way. People spend money cruising around, aquiring information, looking for the right piece of information. But nobody is selling the access to *that* information – not until congestion pricing, anyway.

It’s absurd, of course. The fact that people would pay for a tip on a parking space shows the ridiculous, misguided, nonsystematic ways of uncomfortably adjusting to a set of serious problems.

]]> By: Komanoff http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-29621 Komanoff Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:02:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/06/pay-here-to-park-for-free/#comment-29621 Ah, another reason we love Sblog: trendspotting! Reading AD's post, I flashed back to a bit of parking serendipity from 20+ years ago. I was upstate w/ a rental car and was called back to visit an ailing family member at Sloan-Kettering on York Ave. I drove to the East Side and grabbed a parking space between 2nd and 3rd Aves. After my visit, I hailed a driver cruising for a space and "traded" a ride in his vehicle for "my" parking spot. Sweet. Ah, another reason we love Sblog: trendspotting!

Reading AD’s post, I flashed back to a bit of parking serendipity from 20+ years ago. I was upstate w/ a rental car and was called back to visit an ailing family member at Sloan-Kettering on York Ave. I drove to the East Side and grabbed a parking space between 2nd and 3rd Aves. After my visit, I hailed a driver cruising for a space and “traded” a ride in his vehicle for “my” parking spot. Sweet.

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