Kristina over at GABP Property has written a few bon mots about parking in five major US cities. These are good to keep in mind when you plan your summer vacations. Here they are:
Parking your vehicle in a tight spot is always a challenge. There are some cities in the US where parking is a nightmare, almost any time of the day. Learn more about transit options in these five cities and avoid coming out to a parking violation sticker on your vehicle.
1. New York City
Most parking garages in New York City charge between $6 and $25 an hour. All New York City meters accept coin payment. Select muni-meters accept credit cards. Many meters allow you to pre-pay for parking using the NYC Parking Card, which you can purchase online. Parking rates for single-space parking meters and multiple-space muni-meters vary by street location across the five boroughs. Parking rates are posted on each parking meter and muni-meter, and the legal parking duration is posted in the top left hand corner of the green meter signs. New York does offer an extensive public transit system, with the subway and bus lines cris-crossing the city. Biking is another option, but with the amount of traffic and congested streets, it is not the safest mode of transportation in the city.
2. San Francisco
$17 a day is the minimum daily rate in the city of San Francisco. Most hourly rates start at $6 an hour. San Francisco has 24,000 metered parking spaces. These meters use a quartz timer to keep accurate time; they accept nickel, dimes, quarters, the small dollar coin and prepaid cards as payment. San Francisco offers many public transit options, including train lines on the ACE, BART, Caltrain and Muni. Bus lines also travel throughout the Bay Area, and ferries are available for crossing the bay with or without a vehicle. Biking is a popular choice for transit in the city. The temperate climate makes it easy to ride year-round, but the hills in the city present a physical challenge.
3. Boston
The Boston Commons Parking Garage offers the most economical rate for nightly parking in the city: $10 after 4:00 p.m. to exit before 10:00 a.m. A cheaper alternative is to park at one of the MBTA’s parking garages, get a parking permit, and take the T into the city. Parking should run approximately $3-5/day and the fare is $1.25 each way. City of Boston parking meters cost $1.25 per hour or $0.25 for 12 minutes. They are free on Sundays and legal holidays and no time limit is enforced. The Boston subway system (called “The T”) includes five lines that reach throughout the city proper. Many rail lines also run out of the city to the other major Eastern Seaboard cities. Buses are available throughout the metro area.
4. Chicago
Chicago parking varies by neighborhood. Hourly parking downtown costs $7-17 for 1-4 hours, $15-24 for 5-24 hours. In most areas of the city, rates are $1.50 per hour. In the Central Business District outside the Loop, rates are $3.00 per hour. Inside the Loop (Area bounded by Lake Michigan to the East, Wacker Drive to the North and West, and Congress Parkway to the South), rates are $5.00 per hour from 8 AM- 9 PM, $2.50 from 9 PM – 8 AM. Payment is required seven days a week including holidays. The Chicago “El” or elevated train is the major means of public transit. The eight lines reach far across the city and Metra trains reach into the suburbs. Buses are also readily available within the city limits. Biking is popular in the summer, especially along the famous Lake Shore Drive, but snowy winter weather makes cycling year-round impossible.
5. Washington, DC
Many of the parking garages in central DC start at $6 an hour and go up to $19. City Center Parking near the National Mall is a good deal with a $10 flat rate. There is new way to pay for meters in DC. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has launched a Pay by Phone parking program, a cashless payment option, at 700 parking spaces in three areas of the city. Parking meter rates vary by area of the city. DC’s Metrorail features five lines that service the metro area. The bus system is also extensive. Biking is common in DC and the proliferation of central sites makes cycling a pleasant option for most of the year.
Anyone wish to add to the list, let me know
JVH
