Transportation Alternatives: cruising for parking

pitu · April 2007

I missed this a month ago when Transportation Alternatives put out a study about us . . . around HALF the traffic is cruising for a spot? daaaaaaaammmmmmmnnnnnn
http://www.gothamist.com/2007/02/27/does_park_slope.php

Gothamist wrote: February 27, 2007
Study: Worst Parking in the City is in Park Slope
Anyone that's ever driven a car in New York City knows that one of the hardest things to do is find a parking spot near your destination. A study released by Transportation Alternatives today finds that Park Slope may be the worst place to park. As if it wasn't enough to deal with stroller hell.

The study http://www.transalt.org/campaigns/reclaiming/novacancy.pdf , which looked at 7th Ave. between Union and 12th, finds some alarming things about the vehicle traffic in Park Slope.

- 45% of total traffic is cruising for a parking space.
- 64% of local traffic is cruising for a parking space.
- Nearly 1 in 6 parked vehicles parks illegally, with illegal parking increasing
exponentially as the curb fills up.
- The average curb saturation rate over all observation periods is 94%, with nearly
100% occupancy at metered spaces during peak periods. Non-metered spaces
show even lower vacancy rates.
If a parking spot ever does free up, we imagine something like a feeding frenzy. This has caused some concerns for local businesses as their customers may take their business elsewhere when they can't find parking. TransAlt suggests a Parking Improvement District that increases parking rates to improve parking spot vacancy to 15% and residential parking permits on side streets.

oiseau · April 2007

I think a lot of the meters are being fed all day by business owners who arrive early and stay late. Really at 25 cents per 1/2 hour or even 1/4 hour it's pretty cheap.

I hate double-parking with a passion. There is nothing worse then blocking the road just so you can have a some convenience. I mean, try and give a shit some other people! Walk a block or two. I'd rather you pulled over in front of a hydrant or a bus stop then block traffic.

I'd like to see muni-meters everywhere and residential parking on side streets at night. But then again, are we wreally going to expect the NYPD to enforce any new laws? I mean you can park in front of a hydrant from midnight - 6AM and most likely not get a ticket. Isn't it just as hazardous during that time as it is during the day? WTF?

Basically, I doubt very much that things are going to get better. New housing is being built everywhere, the roads can only get more crowded.

brooke lynn knight · April 2007

The roads are getting more crowded, and the trains are getting crazy, at least the ones I take (N/Q).

Thank god Ratner has proposed all those innovative ways to alleviate the huge burst of Manhattan-Brooklyn street and subway traffic his project will create, or else the whole area around Atlantic Yards would be likely to become un-navigable and downright unlivable!

</sarcasm>!

8thandprez · April 2007

The study only looked at 7th Ave? Are they referring to cruising for metered parking, or all parking spots? I would imaging a large percentage of people driving through the neighborhood are also looking for residential parking spots (ie, non-metered).

It's funny bc I've never found parking in the Slope to be that difficult. When I lived in Seattle, it was not uncommon to search for ~45 min and have to park many blocks from home. In the Slope, I can usually find a space w/in a 3 block radius within 10-30 min.

oiseau · April 2007

shoot, all I can say is when I lived in PH sometimes the closest space was 2 -4 blocks from my apartment, I couldn't imagine what it's like in PS.

As for Ratner, well his development isn't going to help, but even without it things are getting crazy! How many trains do you have to watch pass at the 7th ave B/Q station before you can get on in the morning? I keep seeing new developments being built. Does the MTA have any plan? The DOT seems that squeezing more cars into less space (see the proposals for 4th ave and 9th st) will help matters. The MTA will most likely wait until it has reached a boiling point before doing anything.

backtopsb · April 2007

Ah, the search for a parking space. There was only one way of getting a space when I was younger, and that was to time your parking space hunt with the end of a shift at Methodist. Otherwise, you were probably going to look for a space for a good twenty minutes.

Some things never change.

blkpetal · April 2007

I think the parking problem has become worse because cars are bigger. Just simple logic: bigger cars need more space to park. I think that SUVs and Trucks should pay a premium to park anywhere! Well, I don't ACTUALLY think that but in my opinion Big Cars are a Big Part of the problem.
Of course, you could always do what I do and realize you live in the city, what do you need a car for anyway? Zip Car is here and its cheaper than insurance - but then I am from New Jersey and completely understand the love affair we cultivate with our cars so I also don't ACTUALLY think everone is going to give up their cars either.

Sigh.

brooklynpotter · April 2007

i have to say, i rarely have trouble finding a place to park unless it's late on a weeknight. and i've only once had to park more than 3 blocks away

Transportation Alternatives: cruising for parking

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