The city of Athens, OH is musing as to why parking revenues in its garage are down. Is it because of theft (parking meters with keys on the loose) or is it because of a new garage run by the local University that opened nearby? Read all about it here.
The new garage has cheaper rates, uses pay on exit so people can pay for what they use, and has a waiting list for monthly parkers. The old garage has higher rates, uses meters which beget citations, and is not as convenient. PLUS the city loses about $75K a year from meters because someone has been making keys and stealing money out of 780 meters. That’s about $100 per meter per year.
One would think that for that kind of money, they could change the locks once in a while.
But I digress…They are actually puzzled as to why the income in the city garage is down. What is the matter with these people?
I have an idea – fix the rates in the city garage, make it more convenient for people to pay, rekey the meters, ensure the system for collecting money is secure, begin a marketing program for monthly parkers (pick up those on the University garage waiting list), and my guess is that all would be right in the Athens Parking World.
Whatcha think?
JVH
