Bethlehem, Pa.- Parking Via Credit Cards

Bethlehem business owners pan 'no cash' parking machine plan
By Lynn Olanoff | The Express-Times

"The Bethlehem Parking Authority plans to test new payment machines on its surface lots but the machines would only take credit cards."


My Comments About The Article AboveIn today's world of skimmer devices and hackers I'm very leery about swiping my credit card with it's $15,000 limit. No I didn't request that amount, but that's what the bank has put on it. Seems to me the parking authority gets all the costs savings benefits with none of the risks associated with this technology. It also appears to me this can yet be another way to track and measure peoples habits.

Is There A Better Way?
You can bet your bippy there is --
(1) People could pay cash for electronic parking cards from where ever and in what ever amount.
(2) Get together with the state and split the costs for using E-ZPass. Tons of people already have these and wouldn't be inconvenienced having to carry around yet another card.

The question comes to mind is there an actual cost savings?* Yes someone has to be employed to go out and collect the cash, turn it in, have it audited and sent to a bank. However in a final cost analysis are leasing these machines from some company actually cheaper. Enforcers will still have to visit these lots. Why not have them empty the money while they are there?

* There's little doubt some of the machines will be vandalized (knowing how people sometimes act). Why not eliminate them altogether using either E-ZPass or some sort parking authority transponder like I mentioned above?

* Why not sell yearly parking permit stickers for those who have daily need.

If we're going to go this route I'd much prefer some sort of transponder. In that way it would be possible to get together with other cities allowing them to work not only in the city of Bethlehem but in other cities as well. Think of the cost sharing opportunities that would then be possible.

Finally there is this... Anyone who works or visits malls and other places outside of the cities never have to deal with this. Anything that adds to their inconvenience is a factor.

The ideal solution would be free parking on streets, municipal lots and decks.

That doesn't mean parking for an unlimited amount of time. I understand cities need to turn over spaces.



There a number of ways I can think of to pay the costs.

A few examples might be.. A fair and proportionate levy on businesses based on the number of employees and customers. A small fractional percentage type of local sales tax (needs state approval). A fee on special events. In Allentown's case a small additional arena ticket fee so even they can park free.

Unfortunately I'm 100% positive free parking will never ever happen because cities have turned these parking authorities into cash cows. This should never have been allowed to happen. They should have been a break-even deal right from the get go. Ask yourself how is it possible that suburban communities survive without the income derived from having parking authorities?

Then ask yourself why the suburbs are growing while cities struggle? One word "convenience". The burbs have driveways, plenty of street and parking for businesses, all free. It isn't about driving to somewhere to shop or do business. People will drive. That's not the problem. They want to get in and out quickly, as close as possible and without the additional hassle of having to find a way to pay for parking when they get there.

Some will still argue that customers actually pay for parking because it's factored in store prices. I have two arguments with that.

(1) It doesn't mean downtown stores will be any cheaper.

(2) Even if prices were a few cents cheaper most would rather not fumble with cards or cash once they get there or risk a ticket from some parking authority. It creates the perception that it cost more.


Proponents can argue as the day is long but all they have to do is look at any parking lot outside of the city and count the number of cars as opposed to those in downtown lots and decks. They also should check out whether it's the city streets or the area highways around businesses which are more packed in the middle of the day. I'm not saying this is the ideal way we want society to go, but that's just the way it is. Denial isn't going to change this fact.

If any city wants to draw folks in from the burbs on a regular basis, free parking would be a start. We may not be able to change peoples buying habits weaning them away from chain stores to come downtown, but we can discourage them. Charging and having less options to pay for parking surely leans in the wrong direction.

At one time people were forced to come downtown to shop at Hess's, Orr's and other major department stores, hence they could be forced to pay for parking. Here's a flash. Hess's and Orr's turned out the lights and aren't coming back. We should have turned out the lights on this paid parking dinosaur when these stores turned out theirs. Paid parking is a relic of a bygone area. When cities begin to realize that, the sooner we can move on to the next era. People, if given the choice, aren't going to pay for parking if they can avoid it. Plain and simple.