Donald Shoup's article about SF's experiment is well worth a read (https://escholarship.org/uc/item/00w047hr) but I'll point out this particularly salient passage (page 31):
"Meters will chase away some drivers, but the curb spaces these drivers would have occupied will become available to customers who are willing to pay for parking if they can easily find a convenient curb space. Because the curb spaces will remain almost fully occupied, merchants shouldn’t worry that performance prices will harm their businesses. And who is likely to leave a bigger tip for the waiters in a restaurant? Drivers who are willing to pay for convenient curb parking if they can always find an open curb space? Or drivers who will come only if they can park free after circling the block a few times to find free parking?"
Adam - 8 years ago
I commute to Boulder every day. I actually had to pay for parking downtown today. While looking through my wallet I thought to myself "Another reason I don't live in this frickin' town." Don't turn us into Boulder or Denver please.
Kelly Vlasis - 8 years ago
My parents live in a small town in Illinois. When they installed metered parking, their downtown died, very few stores remain, and not many people go to frequent what few restaurants and coffee shops that are there. Bad idea.
Ken Martin - 8 years ago
Absolutely NOT! Great way to kill the downtown area.
Donald Shoup's article about SF's experiment is well worth a read (https://escholarship.org/uc/item/00w047hr) but I'll point out this particularly salient passage (page 31):
"Meters will chase away some drivers, but the curb spaces these drivers would have occupied will become available to customers who are willing to pay for parking if they can easily find a convenient curb space. Because the curb spaces will remain almost fully occupied, merchants shouldn’t worry that performance prices will harm their businesses. And who is likely to leave a bigger tip for the waiters in a restaurant? Drivers who are willing to pay for convenient curb parking if they can always find an open curb space? Or drivers who will come only if they can park free after circling the block a few times to find free parking?"
I commute to Boulder every day. I actually had to pay for parking downtown today. While looking through my wallet I thought to myself "Another reason I don't live in this frickin' town." Don't turn us into Boulder or Denver please.
My parents live in a small town in Illinois. When they installed metered parking, their downtown died, very few stores remain, and not many people go to frequent what few restaurants and coffee shops that are there. Bad idea.
Absolutely NOT! Great way to kill the downtown area.