Paid Parking Still Divisive
Mayoral Candidates Share Views On Entertainment District Program
Posted: September 16, 2012 at 5:03 a.m.
Jonelle and Bryant Lipscomb of Fayetteville pay for parking in 2010 along West Dickson Street in Fayetteville.
It’s no surprise paid parking is a main issue Dan Coody has focused on in his bid to replace Mayor Lioneld Jordan.
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories related to the race for Fayetteville mayor. Mayor Lioneld Jordan is facing a challenge from former Mayor Dan Coody. Jordan defeated Coody in a 2008 run-off election. Coody served as mayor from 2001 through 2008. Early voting begins Oct. 22 for the Nov. 6 general election.
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Comments
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I moved here eighteen months ago, and I have been lucky not to be ticketed so far in the few times I have ventured into the area. That said, I have been unable to figure out the system. There are no explanatory signs or other helps for the first-time user. It leads me to believe that the underlying philosophy is, "If you don't know this, you don't belong here. This is only for those of us who know and understand the system All others can keep out. This is our tea party." I just stay away.
Posted by: emudflap
September 16, 2012 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
A lot of the dislike for the paid parking system is due to confusion caused by people whose cars are booted in the private parking lots (which are designated with signs). They blame the city for this indignity, however, the city does not boot cars.
Until they figure out that their chances are better in a public lot, these confused souls should derive some consolation from the fact that, as part of the city's paid-parking plan, private lot owners no longer tow improperly parked vehicles at extortionary rates, and helpful attendants are often on hand to collect the parking fine and remove the boot.
RE “'The parking down here is definitely a challenge,' Simpkins said. 'When you have to pay to park before you go somewhere to spend money, it’s a deterrent.'”
It is not necessary to pay for parking before you go to a restaurant, bar or shop. There are lots, including the Walton Arts Center lot, where one can park and pay upon exiting.
People also forget that some of the complexity of parking rates and payment was caused by changing the relatively straightforward original parking plan in response to the immediate p!ssing and moaning from the public because "the price was too high". As a result of the city's responding to the public outcry, we now have periods of free parking, reduced-price parking and full-price parking. Never mind the fact that Dickson Street used to have parking meters-- that is, paid parking.
emudflap--
Information about the parking system is available online. See http://fayettevilleparking.com/
Posted by: AlphaCat
September 16, 2012 at 12:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AlphaCat:
Info on-line is not very helpful when you are on the scene and trying to figure out what comes next. This even deepens the "you're an outsider" feeling.
Posted by: emudflap
September 16, 2012 at 1:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emudflap--
It would have helped you after the first time you had trouble figuring out the parking.
I don't see how providing information online makes you more of an "outsider". Getting more information makes one more informed-- that is, more of an "insider".
Posted by: AlphaCat
September 16, 2012 at 2:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AlphCat:
Not to beat a dead horse, but if it comes down to the difference between being more of an outsider or more of an insider, you have just proven my point. Parking (and enticing potential business into the district) should not be about outsiders v. insiders.
I challenge anyone to ride along with someone not from this area while they look for a space and figure out what is involved. Do not offer any helpful (i.e. "insider") advice and see whether they can figure it out and whether they are ready to plan a return trip.
I don't disagree that helpful advice is available; it's just that this is not so helpful unless an inner voice tells you to check fayettevilleparking.com before venturing into the district. My inner voice had the day off.
emudflap
Posted by: emudflap
September 16, 2012 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Part of why the paid parking happened is because U of A students were parking in front of businessess and going to class, tying up a parking spot for hours, hurting businesses. Or people parking in front of one business and going to another.
Posted by: Commentor
September 16, 2012 at 5:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emudflap--
I guess I'd better quit using the Internet to gather information, then, because apparently finding things out makes me more and more of an outsider. It's everybody else's fault that I don't know everything, and obviously the acquisition of information exists not to make me a better or more well-rounded person but to make me feel unwelcome. Why, the entire public school system is obviously a giant conspiracy designed to make us all resent each other because we're not insiders, and there we are at school to prove it.
Heaven forbid anybody should ask a policeman, hovering meter maid, or passerby for assistance, or poke a button to see what happens. It's always better to live in fear of parking illicitly-- or leave-- than to let somebody else know that you don't know something.
Note to future visitors to Fayetteville's Special Parking Hell:
Don't just slink away when you can't figure out the system. Ask for help-- loudly. Make a big deal out of the arcane and inscrutable nature of the parking system. Make everybody aware of your difficulty-- right then and there. The more people who know you have a problem, the more people will agree with you-- or give you some assistance. Either way, we all win: the parking system gets bad publicity, or you learn how to use it and it isn't the insurmountable obstacle you think it is. Stewing about it does no good for anybody.
Posted by: AlphaCat
September 16, 2012 at 7:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Acey's commentary is not that of the typical "insider," but the usual tripe that gives bureaucracies a bad name.
Ever-changing parking laws, special zones, and constant attempts to change the parking from parallel to angular parking on certain streets, are not intended to serve the general public as much as it is to gain as much in revenue and fines as possible, in order to pay for who knows what. Unfortunately, all it really accomplishes is to frustrate tourists who would like to enjoy the entertainment district, eventually causing them to look elsewhere for their entertainment.
The parking system in Fayetteville has just become an urbanized version of the "speed traps" that are common in rural communities. They are intended for revenue-generation instead of for the convenience and safety of those who travel to the community. It may not be that big of a deal to Fayetteville because college towns always have a fresh supply of examples of the P.T. Barnum theory of marketing, but it will soon drive away businesses that desire a more stable clinetele.
Posted by: IrishMensa
September 16, 2012 at 10:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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