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News & ArtsThursday, April 21, 2011
City / Nightlife Pre-Pay for Morning Parking Before Partying All Night
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Thu, Apr 21, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Today, the city is launching a program that allows people driving to concerts, bars, clubs, or other late-night social activities in Seattle to pre-pay for up to two hours of parking for the following morning—essentially giving drivers a grace period until 10:00 a.m. to pick up find their cars after a night of drinking.
- Behold!
Over the next three months, city officials will also work to set up late-night taxi zones in Downtown, Belltown, Pioneer Square, Broadway, University District, and Ballard—again offering late-night revelers an easier way to get home after drinking. The zones will provide a safe and visible sidewalk location for people to hail a taxi.
As for McGinn's controversial plan to extend bar hours in Seattle, "that proposal is still being finalized," said Aaron Pickus, spokesman for the mayor. The mayor's office has no firm date for transmitting that proposal to the Washington State Liquor Control Board, which would need to approve the extension.
1
Wow. This is a pretty awesome idea, as in it seems like it might have a real effect on people choosing to leave their cars. Nice work, Seattle.
3
Nice work from Mayor McGinn. A fresh idea, approved by many people, actually implemented by a department. Hope to see more if this. (same for the noise rules). Nice to see Seattle actually work once in a while.
4
Excellent! The lack of overnight parking has caused some headache in the past - now just my hangovers will.
5
@Cienna, fourth paragraph bolding: I think you mean "late-night taxi zones." Though another revenue-enhancement possibility aimed at well-heeled revelers does come to mind.
7
Kudos, and more Kudos, to the McGinn team for this and everything else they're working on with the nightlife initiative.
It's also a relief to see that even while our city leadership struggles with the controversies of the tunnel and the bad behavior of our many Officer Haskells, that they are still able to get things done on other fronts.
It's also a relief to see that even while our city leadership struggles with the controversies of the tunnel and the bad behavior of our many Officer Haskells, that they are still able to get things done on other fronts.
8
Fantastic, way overdue idea. But why only two hours? I guess that's the max amount of time you can pay on most meters, but it would still be nice to do a four hour (or hell, all day) pre-pay.
15
James Keblas in the Mayor's office of Film and Music came up with it originally...the Mayor and his staff, and then SDOT made it happen.
16
And even as someone who doesn't drive to go out in the city, the taxi zone idea is really solid. I've been quick to criticize the McGinn administration, but let me be equally quick to give praise where it's due: kudos to all of them for these sensible, needed programs.
17
Pre-pay for the next morning is a fantastic idea ...and may well curb some drunk driving arrests.
Good for the City of Seattle!
Good for the City of Seattle!
18
"why don't they just take transit? or ride a bike - parking for that is free. "
For one, people usually go out with friends and the chances are low that everyone in the group rides a bike.
For one, people usually go out with friends and the chances are low that everyone in the group rides a bike.
19
@18 You don't have to answer him- he's just a solid example of why you should never ride your bike without a helmet.
20
So we're finally catching up to San Francisco, which has been doing this for at least six years, maybe longer.
@9,
Nope. 8. It's always been 8, but free limited parking (1 or 2 hours) starts at 7 a.m.
@8,
Because one of the points of the meter is to keep parking spaces free. If you give people the option of parking on the street for $2/hour all day, they'll park there all day.
@9,
Nope. 8. It's always been 8, but free limited parking (1 or 2 hours) starts at 7 a.m.
@8,
Because one of the points of the meter is to keep parking spaces free. If you give people the option of parking on the street for $2/hour all day, they'll park there all day.
21
Great news! The taxi zones especially, it's easy to hail a cab in Belltown, Downtown and Capitol Hill, not so much in the U-District and Ballard. Now if they could only get the buses to do a 2am run out to the neighborhoods so we can watch the last band and not have to grab an expensive taxi home.
22
I don't get it. Why aren't the same people who scream at Goldy about privatizing liquor more vociferous about all-night bars? Unless you want to sit home drinking, weeping and masturbating as opposed to venturing out into the cold, dark night.
23
This is what a pragmatic approach looks like. Next can we extend LINK service so we have a 2:30am train, too?
25
25 comments and none of them are really negative. How awesome. We're really stoked to have this implemented. It's been worked on for a bit and we're really happy to see it go into effect and to get a positive response. Please spread this article around so everybody sees it and then if needed, will use it.
27
Really glad to see this go into effect. Very smart and beneficial to all, not just drunks. Good job Keblas, I know this came from you.
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