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Are the new parking meter rates and time limits affecting you? Let us know in the comments. Reader "db" shares his frustration: "I went down to Hollywood Blvd for lunch last Sunday and had to park blocks away, not because of the ridiculous $2/hour (on a Sunday!) rates, but because of the absurd one hour limit. Please tell me how one is supposed to park, walk to the restaurant, wait to be seated, orders taken and the meal enjoyed, all in one hour! Never mind the possibility of strolling around and perhaps (shock!) spend some money at the local stores. Nope."
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I am SO glad I don't work on Hollywood blvd anymore. We had 2 employee parking spaces, and everyone else who wanted to drive and work would need to park and keep feeding the meters and hope that the parking police wouldn't notice.
I parked downtown this week at a meter that cost $3/hour! (Near 4th and Wall) A dime bought me 2 minutes! I don't think it would be so bad if they had that pay station so you can pay with a card, but come on, who keeps that much change with them to feed a meter?
@yrntugolfn
That was exactly my thought. The pay increases wouldnt be so bad if they werent so dang inconvenient.
In some spots, it's 16 quarters per hour!
That's BS. Like parking at UCLA where a quarter gives you 8 minutes. Wonder how it's going to impact businesses in that area. If you can't park, why go?
I saw a sign yesterday that said if you park at a meter that is broken, you MAY get a ticket. the whole thing is out of control.
The background on broken meters is here, Sundogg, fyi:
http://laist.com/2007/04/17/failed_meters_explained.php
And I'm fine with a few broken meters here and t here. But in December in Sherman Oaks, we had two blocks of failed meters. I should go check them today and see what's up.
Hollywood Blvd. has several parking garages. They're about $8 flat.
That's not cheap, but it seems better than stressing about finding a parking spot, having enough change and worrying about moving your car because of time limits/street sweeping.
Also, a lot of business have some sort of parking validation.
Hollywood and Highland is $2 for 4 hours with validation. The garage at ArcLight just raised their rates, but I think it's still $2 for 4 hours with ArcLight validation. I know it's not free anymore w/ Farmer's Merket validation. :-( If I'm going out on the Cahuenga corridor, that's my parking secret. Screw street parking or $5 valet at Big Wangs.
Wow, this is ridiculous.
Perhaps, until this is solved, try to use the Red Line subway for areas like Hollywood, Universal City, Downtown, and North Hollywood. Not that the Metro is brilliant or always handy, but it might help you out.
If they could come up with some sort of combination parking meter/washer-dryer that would really help the situation. I'm having a hard time deciding which is the more important use for spare quarters: clean clothes or paying for parking spaces.
This was such a stupid idea , how much is the city really going to make on these expensive meters versus what is going to be lost on business revenue from people avoiding areas because of lack of affordable parking??
This is a bad idea especially in a recession.