Before the roll-out of the new Newton parking application, this lot — the Cypress Street lot in Newton Centre, a vision of meter-less loveliness — was on top of many folks list as the worst lots in the city. Few people like having to walk out of the way to the kiosk to pay, though being able to pay by credit card is a marginal offset. From the city’s perspective, it’s all good: a single, centralized machine rather than just under 60 meters to empty and maintain. And, the kiosk provides very precise data on space utilization.
With the new parking application rolled out this summer, the Cypress Street lot app/kiosk hybrid approach should be a model, particularly for the city’s off-street spaces. From the driver’s perspective, a modest upfront effort to add the application and paying for parking couldn’t be more convenient. No change required. Credit card accepted. No walk to the kiosk required. But, the kiosk remains, meaning folks without the app can still park and pay. It’s all good, particularly for folks who park there regularly, which is likely a large percentage.
From the city perspective, it might be better not to even have the kiosk at all. Let people without the app park elsewhere. And, maybe we’ll have lots where the app is the only option. But, I can’t imagine that’ll happen soon. In the meantime, this hybrid kiosk/app approach seems pretty good, particularly where we can repeat parkers.
So, let’s start yanking out parking meters. I’d propose starting with the Cherry Street lot in West Newton, or the Pleasant and Pelham Street lots in Newton Centre.
The city has hired a parking manager. Let’s hope this is on her to-do list.
Just one thing: as we pull out meters, let’s add bike racks to compensate for the lost bike parking opportunity!
Inconveniencing paying customers is never a good thing in business. So why would it be a good way for the City to conduct its business? Kiosks are not only inconvenient, they also increase pedestrian traffic through vehicular traffic areas of a parking lot.
The kiosk also gets long lines near the hour and half hour, when people are arriving for appointments.
As to having lots that only take the parking app – that’s one of the more elitist suggestions I’ve heard here. The people least likely to have smart phones that can handle the app are those who are elderly (many of whom can’t walk long distances if they can’t use the closest parking lot) or who can’t afford smart phones.
I wonder if an app could be configured to sell an annual permit? One transaction per year.
Sure, it would be “better” for the city not to have kiosks or meters – less personnel and maintenance costs. But exactly how would it better for anyone else – other than for the folks with the app who would benefit from less competition for spaces from those without (who are likely to be older or poorer)? Trading meters for kiosk only on-site payment hits the elderly again, along with others with mobility issues. Look, I’m all for the app – I use it, it’s better and easier for me. But it’s not for everyone.
These new-fangled technology based payment systems appear to discriminate against certain vulnerable populations of US citizens, namely those who do not have the knowledge, inclination, or ability to learn and use these payment programs. The inalienable right for citizens to remain ignorant and secure should be on the forefront of citizen payment to government. This is supported by the US Treasury code for all debt public and private, see: https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/Currency/Pages/legal-tender.aspx
@MGWA. Thanks for pointing the confusion this preferential approach to a parking app could cause for many elderly drivers who don’t have a smart phone or who don’t even know what an app is. I know many such folks personally. They are smart and informed and they get along pretty nicely without the modern technology that many of us take for granted. Personally, I’m generally in some no man’s land between the techie geeks and the trogs.
I am with Tricia on this. I use the app in Boston and Newton all the time, and I love the convenience. But if you don’t have the app (e.g., there is no app for Blackberry and Microsoft phones), or don’t use a smartphone, there should be other options such as meters and kiosks that take both coin and credit cards.
In case anyone missed it, there was an article in the Boston Globe this weekend about the new automatic toll collection gantries on the MassPike. They are currently being tested and calibrated, and are collecting information on, among other things, vehicle speeds and locations. If you use a cell phone, someone, somewhere already has that information, and hackers may be looking for it. Fortunately, there is a law in Massachusetts against using such information other than for collecting tolls. But it is only a matter of time until someone in a civil or criminal case will subpoena information collected from parking apps. We need protection for our civil liberties and against the invasion of our privacy. In the meantime, be aware that information about your location and parking habits is out there.
Amother example of a policy in which the value of parking bikes, and now the cars of smartphone owners with parking apps, outweighs the value of those who don’t have them. There is a big picture of parking in Newton that includes the needs of all residents out there somewhere. I hope it surfaces soon.
I meant “another” – not “amother.” Lol Now I know why the comment was “waiting for moderation.”