Few people are willing to fork over money to park when they can go anyplace other then downtown. Can anyone name just one bar, restaurant or diner beyond those in the center cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton where one has to pay for parking?
This idea would be a stupid one even if Allentown still did have a monopoly on shopping. Back in the day all three major department stores provided free parking at 'Park & Shop' lots with purchase. If free parking was a good idea back then, why wouldn't the same hold true now?
These cities have their blinders on and can only see one side of the equation, theirs. I can understand how city government may view this as a cash cow. That may play well on concert and game nights, but outside of a few nights a month patrons will simply go somewhere else. Even if the city should attract a few more downtown, think how many more they would if those customers of beanaries and bars wouldn't be forced to pay for parking.
Ok so the city probably may make out a little bit better then before by extending hours and increasing rates to park. But I fail to see how this will benefit the business owners or people who live in neighborhoods which do not offer residents parking permits.
Apparently cities have learned nothing from history. One of the reasons shoppers left downtown in mass was because they were drawn to the suburbs which offers their customers free parking. One may argue that customers are still paying because it's factored in the costs for store items. Well if that's the case shouldn't everything be cheaper at shops, eateries and bars then their counterparts outside the city limits? This simply is not the case.
Here's the bottom line
If anyone's looking to attract more patrons over their rivals in the suburbs there are three key elements customers are looking for. (1) Affordable. (2) Safe. (3) Convenient & easily accessible (even to the disabled). These three cities are weak in all three of these areas. Increasing parking cost$ only adds to these disadvantages.
I'm one of many who won't shop or eat at downtown areas that have parking meters (Easton). Plenty of places to eat in other towns that don't have meters and actually offer a better locale. I'm not alone. A half dozen friends have also stopped feeding meters and found a different watering hole.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly we do the same. When the wife needs more knitting supplies we really would like to go to 'Tucker's' on Hamilton Street. Unfortunately every time we went we couldn't find a parking meter closer then a block or two away. Even though it's further we shop at the yarn shop on the triangle in Emmaus. Emmaus has eliminated all their parking meters and we've always been able to park less then a block away. People on the street seem friendlier too.
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