Lately my county of Arlington, Virginia has been removing parking "meters" (one per parking space) and installing "pay to park" machines (one per block or so) instead. Either way, you pay to park, so I prefer to call them payment stations.
These machines have been common in Europe for at least a couple of decades, but they're just beginning to be widely used in the U.S. The benefits for local government are, I suppose, that this system is cheaper (fewer machines to be purchased and serviced). A secondary benefit is that in busy areas they make more money, because you get a chit for your parking, put it in your car, and drive away with it. No more arriving at a space to find twenty or thirty minutes left on the meter by the previous occupant!
These payment stations have few advantages for the people (us) who actually use them. Granted, you can pay with credit card or cell phone - to me that's just silly, for a transaction that may be less than a dollar, not to mention requiring more time - but it's a minor convenience if you don't happen to have coins.
Otherwise, however, it's lose-lose for parkers: You'll spend more time hiking halfway down the block to a machine, back to your car, and then (finally) setting off for your destination; and still more waiting for the machine to issue your ticket, which takes about 10 seconds after you press the button (why so long, please?). You say ten seconds doesn't seem like much? It's an eternity compared to the old "turn-the-handle" and instant-read electronic meters. You'll notice, believe me, when it's pouring rain. You'll also be on the losing end of that break I mentioned earlier - no free time left on a meter!
I suppose we should all applaud what makes our local government less costly and more efficient. I don't mind the walk, but I do hope the county will use some sense in deciding where to install these money-vacs. They're fine if you plan to be parking for an hour or two; the extra time they require is a BIG nuisance if you park in front of the post office to run in and check your mailbox, or stop at a restaurant to pick up your carryout order. In these places, the new pay stations can double the time it takes you to accomplish these errands.
Yes! Finally someone writes about ac car
show.
Posted by: scotttuckerpaydayloans.com | November 27, 2012 at 06:46 PM