Boycott, Stop Parking At Meters Says Writer
Edward McClelland knows how Mayor Rahm Emanuel can break the city’s infamous parking meter lease contract.
According to the NBC website columnist, it’s as simple as just not driving and not parking on streets controlled by the city’s parking meters.
In other words, boycott the meters.
McClelland encourages his readers to bike, walk, or do anything else but use a car instead.
Parking meter revenue will decline, profits for the meter system will falter and then Chicago Parking Meters, LLC will be be forced to renegotiate the 75 year lease.
As much as we encourage drivers to avoid parking at the meters as much as possible, and with all due respect to Mr. McClelland, the chances of this ever happening are similar to one’s odds at winning a million dollars in the lottery.
While it’s hard to tell, perhaps McClelland’s tongue is firmly thrust against his cheek on this matter.
See for yourself and read his full piece, “How to Escape The Parking Meter Deal.”
I already do my own version of what he suggests. I havn’t paid a meter since the deal became effective. I would rather drive around for 20 minutes looking for space on the side streets, or park in a 15 minute loading zone with me flashers on and move as fast as possible, or simply risk not paying for a short amount of time. I have yet to receive a ticket since the deal took over, and if I do, I guarantee you it is far, far less than the amount I would have put into the meters in the past couple of years.
Greg,
It sounds like you are more successful than I, but I always try my darndest to find free parking so I don’t have to feed the meters.
Although, sometimes there’s no other choice.
http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/fin/supp_info/AssetLeaseAgreements/MeteredParking/Metered_Parking_System_Ordinance.pdf
DOR -
Thanks a lot for that – I tried to open it and it froze my computer.
Though the fact that the contract for the parking deal created havoc on my PC is actually pretty fitting…
I made a similar point a few weeks ago on Bike Walk Lincoln Park when I noted the sad three-year anniversary of the parking meter lease deal:
http://www.bikewalklincolnpark.com/2011/12/three-years-down-72-more-to-go-on.html
Greg…its like 531 pages on PDF….its going to take a while to open.
I know DOR – but it completely froze my computer. I waited awhile and nothing happened.
Its the city’s retaliation for all those tickets I’ve had that were ruled in my favor…
Many of us are already boycotting the parking meters. My main method is to drive 15 minutes to the suburbs to shop (where my eyes have been opened to lower prices, better selection and nicer people). If I must be in the city, I search out a store or restaurant with its own parking (whereas I used to decry strip malls, they are now my BFFs). My last resort is to look for parking on side streets, but if it isn’t available I turn around & go home. I’ve sent quite a few TXT messages “sorry couldn’t find parking” to friends. I’m 51. I’m not taking the L or bus or riding a bicycle anywhere… not with all these teenagers shooting guns off. I don’t even shop for groceries in Chicago any more. Even with the price of gas as high as it is I save money by driving 10 miles to Meijer. The city doesn’t even begin to realize how much money it’s losing on this deal.
If we have Peak Oil and gasoline runs out, nobody will park at meters anymore.
That’s because nobody will be driving anymore.
And a renegotiation of the lease will be the city’s least worry.