Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > August > 19 > Entry
What’s your secret to parking in Atlanta?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few things you oughtta know about parking in Atlanta…
- Lots of people don’t pay their parking tickets. The city is owed about $10.5 million in unpaid parking citations issued in the last 3 1/2 years.
- Seems easy to be one of the scofflaws. Haven’t paid? Well, debtors’ cars aren’t given a “boot,” vehicle registrations aren’t suspended, and only the police are empowered to tow in most areas — if and when they have the time.
- You might not be able to dodge that bill much longer. A private company with expanded enforcement capabilities might take over parking ticket collections after the city’s current contract with ACS expires Nov. 25. The proposed contract would give Central Parking the power to boot and tow, as well as other collection capabilities, said Public Works spokeswoman Valerie Bell-Smith. Current city parking enforcement employees would work for and be paid by Central Parking, she said.
All this info appeared in a story by reporter Mike Maciag, “Fined drivers owe Atlanta millions.”
Just after my move here, I half-heartedly hung up my car keys — who wants to pay $60 a month to park downtown when it costs half that to take the train and requires time in traffic? A few car-less months later, the very idea makes me queasy.
Of course, the packed streets of the city tell me a lot of you don’t see any option other than your car. How do you do it? What’s your parking strategy, your parking secret?
Pay for a pass, chance it on the street or find an unusually wealthy, kind employer with a free lot? Take MARTA to special events? Park ‘n’ Ride in? Pay your tickets, or ignore ‘em?
Here’s a link to a flyer from Atlanta’s Public Works office: Atlanta Parking 101.
Share your horror stories/wisdom/advice in the comments.
Here’s mine: my hatchback was pretty tiny, but it’s way easier to park a bike.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Getting Around
Comments
By a scandal
August 19, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
The parking Nazis in midtown put tickets on cars that shouldn’t even get a ticket. Walking to work, I see them write tickets on cars before 8:00 a.m. on resident’s cars that live in midtown and are able to park on the street after 6:00 pm until 8:00 am but these people come out and already have a ticket. VERY early one morning a delivery truck was dropping off supplies on a side street and as soon as he went inside to drop off the items the parking meter person was putting a ticket on his truck! I have been ticketed and towed before when the curb was not painted yellow or anything. Their excuse for the ticket was that I too close to the crosswalk. What a crock! I never paid mine either and its been over two years. I know not to park in a crosswalk, anyhow no wonder people don’t pay them, they are just a way for the city to make money and you cant get out of one anyways.
By Kim
August 19, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
I take MARTA to sporting events (like the final 4 when the Gators won their 3rd nat’l championship in a year). However, in general, when I park in Atlanta, I try to avoid parking next to buses, but every time, I go back out to my car & there I am, sandwiched between two personal buses (suburban utility vans).
By CMR4Jesus
August 19, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
I love Mark Richt.
By Yvette
August 19, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
Atlanta parking is a bargain compared to other metro cities. When I lived in DC (about 12 years ago) it was $150/month to park in a garage close to my job. I took chances, got tickets, got booted, towed. Atlanta in town parkers have it too easy.
By VoiceOfReason
August 19, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
As I enter the parking lot, I say a little prayer to the parking god. If there are people with me in the car, I demand they say a prayer also. Works every time!
By VoiceOfReason
August 19, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
This also works for street parking. The parking God grants all wishes.
By jgumbrecht_0508aa
August 19, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
You’re right on that, Yvette. I bet (hope, too) that people here will get more creative with their commutes if enforcement and fines are stepped up.
I’ve never paid more to park than when I worked in downtown Lansing, Mich. If you were in town for the day, the rates were fine. For those of there every day, It was actually cheaper there to chance getting a $5 ticket (if paid within two hours) every day than to pay to park in a nearby garage. If I had to do it again there, I’d definitely rely on the bus and my bike.
By Caroline
August 19, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
I’ve stopped going downtown, which is funny considering I live in East Atlanta. Too much hassle from the cops, too much hassle from panhandlers. I haven’t ventured downtown in years and never will again.
By Jj
August 19, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
I only go downtown once a year, for the Christmas Parade, and we take MARTA.
By Sherrybaby
August 19, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
It’s not the parking god, it’s the parking lot angel, no wonder you can’t find a place.
By Smarty
August 19, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
I drive a Smart Car. Parking is never a problem.
By Smarty
August 19, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
I drive a Smart Car. Parking is never a problem.
By jgumbrecht_0508aa
August 19, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Oooh…so what are the Smart Car pros and cons? Has it been what you hope it would?
By kroozerdad
August 19, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
Parking on the street next to a government building seems to be alright. The only people who get parking tickets downtown are the fools who park at an expired meter. Four lane one way streets are only two lanes during rush hour due to all the illegal parkers who never get a ticket. The City of Atlanta NEEDS to clean it UP!!!
By wrcz
August 19, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
Scooter.
By Nikita
August 19, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
Some folks don’t pay because WHERE Atlanta meter maids fines folks are crazy. If it is beside or near a bank (hellooo, P’tree & Marietta St.), put a meter out and stop giving tickets. Folks pro’lly stop on their way to/from work and on their lunch hour. Also, the meter maids, some of them ARE crazy. I got a ticket on Central for parking “too close to a driveway” at 8:40 am in the morning to grab my pair of shoes fron the shoe repair store which took 10 minutes tops. I stopped at a restaurant near downtown at 7 am in the morning to just grab bkfst, and the people who served the food, warned me to get back to my car asap because there is a very anal meter maid who will give you a ticket because it is not between 8am - 6pm - the time when you can park for an hour with no problem. Huh? That did it for me. Public transpo is the only way I come to downtown/midtown.
By Drew
August 19, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
The secret to parking downtown? Don’t. If you don’t work downtown (and I don’t) there’s nothing there you can’t find elsewhere… and with free parking.