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Today, the LA City Council extended a program allowing owners of hybrid owners of certain makes to park for free at city meters. The program went into effect for a total of three years, in which the city would study it to determine its success and advantages or lack thereof.
Today's unanimous vote extended the ordinance through 2010, which now requires vehicles to display state decals that allow carpool access on freeways. Previously, the city ordinance did not require the decals.
Only the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight or Ford Escape Hybrid are included in the program that is estimated to cost the city $116,560 a year, which is 0.56 percent of the total annual meter revenue.
Last month, State Senator Joe Battin proposed a bill that would allow SUVs and Hummers with solo drivers to access carpool lanes with a special decal. It ignited quite a conversation in the comments section.
Photo by pink_fish13 via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
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Waaaaaaiiiit a minute... you mean all those times I've scrounged for change and panicked about running out of time on my meter and I COULD HAVE PARKED THERE FOR FREE???? How did I not know about this? Well, dang. My parking (in LA City) has been revolutionized!!!!
Lindsay, be really carefull about this though. The free parking is ONLY for LA City NOT all of LA County.
It's a great program which I take advantage of whenever I can. But most of the time when I think I'm in LA City, I check the meter and it turns out I'm just outside of the city limits.
Ok I'm happy for the hybrid owners. However motorcyclists have been begging for the right to park between meters for years. Many cities allow this. However in LA you have to park you motorcycle in a designated space and you have to feed the meter.
Motorcycles can drive int he carpool lane, save fossil fuel, relieve traffic congestion, and could free up parking spaces for all you hybrid owners.... if only we weren't required to park in a designated parking space.
Come on LA City council... how about promoting motorcycles a bit.
- mark -