In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a tulsaworld.com columnist has taken a pretty critical stab at the city’s new solar-powered parking meters. One of his main gripes is that the meters require drivers to back in to their parking spots. Mr. Conley says, in summary, that this is a ridiculous requirement that also dangerous and extremely challenging.
And you probably thought the first series of back-in angled parking spots west of downtown was a practical joke. Nope. It’s spreading. Imagine some new-driver kid having to back through traffic toward a parking place.
Mr. Conley’s other gripe is that the solar-powered meters are not likely to work reliably. Citing past experience with solar-powered equipment, he says the meters will be difficult to use and will be plagued with disabling glitches.
Columnists get paid to share their opinions, and they often do that by being entertaining or informative. This column reminded me of those silly infomercials that show a person struggling to use a blanket or make bacon and then offer the perfect solution: a blanket with sleeves or a microwaveable bacon rack. Blankets and bacon are easy. And so is parking in all its forms. You just have to practice.
I hope Mr. Conley is underestimating Tulsa’s new meters – and its drivers.
Read the rest of the column here.
