Tulsa parking meter rates

[RecycleMichael]

I know I am in a minority on this subject, but find myself there on most subjects discussed in Tulsa and on this forum.

I think the parking meter rates for downtown meters should be raised. I park at a downtown meter almost every day and even occasionally have a ticket (when a meeting goes long). I also pay $75 a month for a surface parking lot spot next to my office.

Fifty cents an hour is just too low. I just drove through eight states on vacation and every city we stopped in had more expensive rates. Most were $1.50 an hour. I just paid a nickel in Tulsa for six minutes (long enough to run in and pick up a package). A nickel.

Who is not coming downtown because they have to pay a nickel? Who won't shop or eat downtown because of fifty cents an hour? Will making it a dollar an hour really have a stifling affect on downtown revitalization?

Raising the rate charged per hour will impact very few people and will provide the city a little extra cash to do other things. 

[custosnox]

Actually I think raising the meter rate would be a good thing.  While maybe not up to $1.50, I could see at least $.75.  What I disagree with is extending the hours to beyond 5, and letting American Parking take over the meters.  I believe this was all discussed on another thread though, I'm just too lazy to look it up right now lol.

[TheArtist]

  Have the money go to helping establish a trolley service and I am in.  I would also like to see card readers that work and have it so that you can swipe in, then swipe out, and get charged for the time you are there.

[Red Arrow]

  Have the money go to helping establish a trolley service and I am in.  I would also like to see card readers that work and have it so that you can swipe in, then swipe out, and get charged for the time you are there.

I am not fond of parking meters and use them and the private parking lot fees as an excuse to not come downtown.  (Evenings and weekends excepted.) I might relent some if the fees were used to establish a free park and ride and a (real) trolley system.  A fare to ride the trolley would be acceptable if not too steep.  A frequent user rate would be a plus.

One of the common "reasons" for the parking meters is to promote turn over for downtown businesses.  I have a few potential options for this.

1.  Free parking to attract business by having businesses "validate" a parking receipt.  Each business could establish their own minimum purchase or whatever to get your receipt validated.

2.  Free street parking but time limited.  Have a parking enforcement person chalk tires to see if cars have moved. This service could be paid for by the businesses benefiting from parking turn over.

3.  Have a short time free, then expensive rate.  Artist's idea to swipe a card could be used to implement this.

4.  Admit parking is nothing more than another way to discourage visitors make money and raise the rates to the level the market will bear. Might take some trial and error.


I believe one of the reasons for the growth of shopping centers include the convenience (OK, not the traffic along 71st between Memorial and Garnett) and the fact that patrons were not nickeled and dimed to death for the privilege of shopping there.  A walk across Woodland Hills parking lot is much the same to me as walking a few blocks downtown.  The view of parked cars isn't particularly attractive (with some exceptions) but mostly I know what I want and am not interested in window shopping businesses with up to the sidewalk storefronts anyway.

Mr. Suburbia (Who actually wants a good downtown nearby for the things small towns cannot support.)

[heironymouspasparagus]

What can't the small towns support that is being well done in downtown Tulsa?
Fancy 'designer' bars?


If higher parking meter rates were in place, how would that be different from raising taxes?  (And yes, fees are taxes, so that isn't valid argument.)

And trolleys??  How is that different from a bus, except for the severely limited circulation/usefulness?

Don't misunderstand - I enjoyed riding the trolley in the '50s from north Harvard to downtown.  Also would use the bus exclusively if my traffic pattern allowed.  Doesn't now, but has a lot in the past, so I did ride it.  Excellent way to get to work.

[Red Arrow]

What can't the small towns support that is being well done in downtown Tulsa?
Fancy 'designer' bars?

If higher parking meter rates were in place, how would that be different from raising taxes?  (And yes, fees are taxes, so that isn't valid argument.)

And trolleys??  How is that different from a bus, except for the severely limited circulation/usefulness?

Don't misunderstand - I enjoyed riding the trolley in the '50s from north Harvard to downtown.  Also would use the bus exclusively if my traffic pattern allowed.  Doesn't now, but has a lot in the past, so I did ride it.  Excellent way to get to work.

I wasn't thinking so much of bars and entertainment although I wouldn't expect a symphony orchestra in Bixby or Jenks.  Some examples I can think of are Radio Inc, Ridgeways and Triangle.  There are bound to be some specialty shops I can't think of at the moment that are not restricted from a small town but are more likely to be successful in a larger town.  The internet has taken some of that away.

Higher parking rates vs higher taxes.  Yep, about the same.  The usual excuse for parking meters is for customer turn over, not raising money.  Just a ruse as far as I am concerned.

If you don't know the difference between a (real) trolley and a bus, I suggest you spend a few hours at www.lightrailnow.org   Start with the myths section and facts section.  I will admit that the trolleys I grew up with operated more like an interurban than a street car.  In our area the trolleys had a private right of way, mostly double tracked.  See SEPTA route 101 (Media, PA line).  There was a stop about 100 yds from our house.  The High School was 2 stops away.  The Jr High School was one stop farther.  The Catholic schools were about 10 minutes in the other direction.

The only positive memories I have of bus trips were for school trips and one trip with some fellow volunteer firemen to see the Phillies play. I think they lost.  A trip to Atlantic City to avoid the hassle of having a car there was terrible.  The bus stopped at every small town along the way.  Noisy bouncy ride.  Not fun, not comfortable.  I think we were able to change to an express bus for the return trip.  I also remember the buses idling at 69th Street Station in Upper Darby with their stinky diesel exhaust and noise.  The trolleys were quiet, interrupted only by the occasional running of the air compressor.  Trolley, good.  Bus, PU.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Yeah, the trolley in Tulsa was dedicated to a path.  I don't remember rail - I think it had rubber tires, but the power wires ran above the car a few feet.  (I was young).

For all its limitations, the Tulsa bus system isn't just horrible.  Move quite a few people and could move a lot more.

School bus is different from the metro bus.  The ones Tulsa has now are almost comfortable comparatively.  I always park at Hale or Broken Arrow and ride the bus to the state fair.  Excellent alternative to driving myself.

Highway buses suck.  I will walk before that.

[Red Arrow]

Yeah, the trolley in Tulsa was dedicated to a path.  I don't remember rail - I think it had rubber tires, but the power wires ran above the car a few feet.  (I was young).

For all its limitations, the Tulsa bus system isn't just horrible.  Move quite a few people and could move a lot more.

School bus is different from the metro bus.  The ones Tulsa has now are almost comfortable comparatively.  I always park at Hale or Broken Arrow and ride the bus to the state fair.  Excellent alternative to driving myself.

Highway buses suck.  I will walk before that.

Philly had, and still has some trolley buses.  Two overhead wires since there was no path to ground through the steel wheels to the rails. The ride comfort depends on the condition of the road (Tulsa comfortable?) or the rails.  Lots of previous discussion about this in other threads.

Just to try to get back on topic.  Good public transit would reduce the number of people wanting to drive their car to or in downtown.  My preference is rail but a good bus system can be effective.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Well, if I worked in downtown Tulsa, there is no way I would ever drive.  The bus from BA to Tulsa is too good and too cheap to do anything else.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I would take it one big step further.  Get rid of parking meters.  Get rid of automobile traffic in core downtown.  Establish reasonable, dependable shuttle system so all parking is around the perimeter and only shuttles go to center.  Frankfurt to Elgin.  Brady to 15th.  (Or something near that).

How is that for radical?  But would be very good.  I would be much more inclined to bother with downtown than I ever am now.

[Red Arrow]

I would take it one big step further.  Get rid of parking meters.  Get rid of automobile traffic in core downtown.  Establish reasonable, dependable shuttle system so all parking is around the perimeter and only shuttles go to center.  Frankfurt to Elgin.  Brady to 15th.  (Or something near that).

How is that for radical?  But would be very good.  I would be much more inclined to bother with downtown than I ever am now.

Frankfurt to Elgin is only one block.  Did you intend maybe Elwood?

[heironymouspasparagus]

Sorry,... forgot the F street on the west side... one block west of Elwood.  Or Elwood would do fine.


Well, before I am accused of public drunkeness again, I guess I will get off here.  Would hate to put someone in the position of casting aspersions against me - that only hurts their spiritual karma.  Puts a dark blot on their soul.

[custosnox]

Frisco

[Gaspar]

I avoid going down town like the plague because I hate to feed the meter.  I have replaced several vendors over the years because the hassle of parking and paying for it drives me crazy.

I guess I'm spoiled, I want to park, walk in, and do business. 

[sgrizzle]

I avoid going down town like the plague because I hate to feed the meter.  I have replaced several vendors over the years because the hassle of parking and paying for it drives me crazy.

I guess I'm spoiled, I want to park, walk in, and do business. 

You haven't been downtown recently. Last ten times I've parked at a meter it didn't work. Free parking.