The city has decided to give free parking permits to residents and employees around light-rail stations in Southeast Seattle, to prevent people from driving into the neighborhood and parking their cars all day (AKA "hide and ride.") Visitors will be able to park for free for between two and four hours. Residential permits will only be free, however, until 2011, when they'll probably revert to the current paid-permit system in place in other neighborhoods (known as Residential Parking Zones, or RPZs) all over the city. Currently, a permit costs a very reasonable $45 for two years, or $10 for people receiving financial assistance to pay food, housing, energy or medical bills. Find out if your neighborhood is in an RPZ on the city's web site.