By adamg on Thu., 1/19/2017 - 10:22 am 
Somebody's going around the Back Bay taping protests to parking meters against the meter increase that went into effect on Jan. 3 as an experiment in demand pricing for parking. Scott Kennedy took the photo before he removed the tape on this meter and three others.
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Parking Meters
By Leviticus
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 10:25am
Boo hoo, try paying for a garage at $30 for 2 hours!
Boston parking meters have been underpriced for years, which encourages abuse (feeding the meter all day in violation of the 2 hour limit), and motorists endlessly circling the block to score a nice cheap spot.
Moving the meter prices more towards a market rate is a wise and long overdue move.
Oh, and it's "too much", not "to much".
Parking fees are an unecessary tax
By anon
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 11:54am
We don't put tolls on all streets and roads, allowing free travel. Yet we place parking fees on streets.
"Market rate" = BS justification for an unfair fee.
I must've missed it
By adamg
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:00pm
Where in the constitution is your right to a parking spot on Newbury Street enshrined?
2nd amendment part B
By BostonDog
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:20pm
"In addition to the right to bear arms, the goverment will provide free parking to people who pay enough already but not to douchebags from the suburbs."
I must've missed it
By Greg Conyngham
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 9:39pm
I think you did miss the true issues with this... Possibly more insight into a neighborhood outside of yours is required.
Real issues?
By adamg
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 10:25pm
Really, such as?
Disclaimer: You're right, the parking-meter doesn't affect me at all personally since I live in a part of the city where we don't have them, and when I do need to go to parts of the city where they do have them, I either take the T or, in extreme cases, just park in the Common garage. But I repeat my question to the person who asserted the right to free parking on Newbury Street: Where exactly is that right enumerated?
Sorta correct
By anon²
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:09pm
We pay gasoline taxes, both state and federal, and then there's registration fees and grants coming back from the fed from the general fund.
Do you think roads build themselves?
Some places like VA actually have privatized some of this, leading to huge tolls on roads. Or Chicago privatizing parking.
The prices make this below market rate seem quaint.
Have you never driven on the
By cden4
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:23pm
Have you never driven on the Mass Pike?
1937 SJC Opinion on new-fangled parking meters
By KarenK
Sat, 01/21/2017 - 9:42am
I ran across this 1937 SJC Opinion on the proposed installation of parking meters on Massachusetts streets years ago while researching the rights and responsibilities of those of us sharing a small private way. I found it oddly fascinating, and as this topic seems to have hit a nerve, I'm betting others will agree it's worth a read: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/297/297mass559.html
Wahhh
By anon
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 10:26am
Wahhhh wahhhhh wahhhhh wahhhhh. Storing my large piece of personal property COSTS MONEY! I'm being expected to pay LESS than what it costs!
NO FAIR! (stomps)
Don't worry
By anon
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 11:47am
One day you too will be able to afford that large piece of personal property. In the meantime, back on the bus you go!
1980 Called
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:26pm
It wants to talk to you about those overdue fines on that antiquated economic and social status point of view that you never returned.
Many cycle commuters I know make high six figures and own really nice cars. So do many of the lawyers who ride the express buses. They use them for road trips to their vacation homes, not for driving into the city.
And your point is what you
By Republican
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 1:13pm
And your point is what you pretentious pig?
Charming
By anon
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 7:03pm
Pig.
I guess Trump really does represent the Republicans in that you can't express a contrary option without personal slurs.
Cars as a primary element of core city transportation should be of secondary priority to public transit, bike paths, etc...
Do you need me to explain any of the big words like 'transportation' or 'transport' or tricky abbreviation like 'etc'?
Ad homs. Nice.
By erik g
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 2:03pm
I would imagine that her point is that car ownership is no longer a status symbol, as it was 30+ years ago, and that she was able to cite several examples of high-earner who ride a bike or take the bus. Furthermore, contrary to the patronizing remark made by the anon to whom she is replying, assuming otherwise makes you look like the uneducated rube in the exchange.
However, I wouldn't presume to put words in someone's mouth, as that would make me a pretentious pig.
A compliment, really
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 3:15pm
I'd far rather have a pig in my house than someone this backward and ridiculous polluting my personal space.
Pigs are cute, way smarter than Republican here, and very grateful when you give them the leftover mash from your homebrewing tun.
A magical animal
By Scratchie
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 3:23pm
And they turn garbage into pork.
Protein Composters!
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 3:31pm
The importance of this to people spreading across the Pacific islands cannot be underrated!
Dogs Look Up To Us—Cats Look Down On Us—Pigs Treat Us As Equ
By Elmer
Sat, 01/21/2017 - 2:00pm
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[sup]âŸâŸâŸâŸâŸâŸâŸâŸâŸâŸWinston S. Churchill[/sup]
As classy as...
By Michael Kerpan
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 6:22pm
... your party's new leader. Good work.
Do you pay a toll on every PUBLIC street you use?
By anon
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 11:56am
Then why should you pay a fee to park your car on those same PUBLIC streets. This is an unfair tax on drivers and should be abolished.
It's not a tax. It's easily
By Lando
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:15pm
It's not a tax. It's easily avoidable, just park somewhere else. Boston has plenty of free on-street parking, though it may not be in close proximity of your destination.
Please do tell, where is this
By anon
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:51pm
Please do tell, where is this free on-street parking in Boston of which you speak?
Free parking almost everywhere after 8pm
By another anon
Sat, 01/21/2017 - 11:29am
After 6 in some spots. Except for residential parking. Free all day Sundays too. And there is still a lot of non-metered parking in the city, but certainly not in high demand areas. That's the point.
Okay anon
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:33pm
If you are arguing that public parking should be free, then you are also arguing that everyone who does not own a car should be getting a rebate.
Should people without
By anon
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:46pm
Should people without children get a rebate as well?
Huh?
By Scauma
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 1:13pm
That logic makes absolutely no sense. We get it Swirly, you hate cars and drivers and adore cyclists. But what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander in this case. Non car owners don't pay an excise tax for the right to use roads, no? So no driving down city streets isn't free like some think.
An Exercise
By blues_lead
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 2:16pm
Compare the revenue from excise taxes, and gas taxes and whatnot, tolls, to the expenditure on roads: building, maintaining, plowing, all that.
Revenue doesn't come close to expenditure, and those of us who don't drive are propping up those who do.
Now factor in the externalities - pollution and its effects, deaths from crashes, poor health outcomes from lack of walking, - you've got an even bigger problem.
Whether you drive or not
By Scauma
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 2:34pm
You get the benefits of having paved roads. Groceries have to be delivered to the super market, UPS needs to be able to deliver packages. Roads aren't solely for those who own cars.
That's what pricing is for
By blues_lead
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 2:41pm
And then a thing that has to be shipping from far away is likely to be more expensive than a thing that doesn't. So we buy the thing that is cheaper, and the pollution from shipping the thing a long way doesn't happen. So now you as a driver have fewer trucks to deal with! (Unless it was shipped by rail, which is so efficient that the added cost of externalities is pretty darned small.)
Reality hates cars
By anon
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 2:29pm
Look it up dear. You are clearly new here if nobody has schooled you on this.
Tax foundation has the stats - http://taxfoundation.org/article/gasoline-taxes-an.... What drivers pay doesn't come close to the costs of even maintaining roadways. Not even in MA.
I don't hate cars
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 3:35pm
I just bought one, actually, to replace the one that had to go back to VW.
I merely challenge the notion that driving is some sort of protected activity whereby drivers have little responsibility and having a motorized vehicle entitles you to subsidies and priority on the road. Particularly when there isn't any space for vehicles and there are serious health impacts that result.
Boston was not built for motor vehicles. It was built for humans and things that move pretty much at the speeds that humans can move on their own. Forcing cars into our urban space has done untold damage to our city.
Cars are also expensive and should not be a requirement of participation in the economy.
That argument doesn't work
By merlinmurph
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 7:19pm
This argument comes up time and time again, and I'm sorry, it just doesn't work. It's weak. There are cities much older than Boston (Rome, anybody?) that have adapted to progress as best they could (Yes, I drove in Rome once - wow). We didn't just jump from 1900ish to 2017. We've progressed slowly and made changes along the way and adapted. Is it perfect? No, it's never perfect. But, even the newest city can be a clusterfark if there's enough cars.
FWIW, I support the new meter pricing and I don't even live in the city. I don't think the price should be anywhere near market rate, though.
And you said it right there...
By Greg Conyngham
Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:48pm
"I don't even live in the city". So I think you are both unqualified to comment on this and in particular as it is a neighborhood that you don't live in, know and fail to understand this is more of a tax on the poor to moderate income.
And you clearly don't believe..
By Greg Conyngham
Fri, 01/20/2017 - 10:02pm
That they are necessary for commerce. I live in the city and hate them. Hate owning one. Hate parking one. But I work outside the city and spend my day going from construction site to construction site. I have an SUV as I haul large amounts of stuff around. I suppose I could do this by bike (48 hours later I have completed my 8 hour day) or by ride sharing (Uber driver: That will be $675 for today's job site visits) but for some reason this does not seem practical to me. Suggestions? You seem to have all the answers! But your always so right-I could sell my place, move to JP (where my rent would be more then my mortgage) work at the local co-op, walk or bike to work, make $10-12/hour and truly be happy with my 3 stoner roomates while I watch my life dither away. We all have different lives and their is a diversity of people, needs and jobs that make up any city, it's life and commerce. Get a clue-they are available on most game shows for $200.
I know who did this
By anon
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 10:31am
Obviously Adam did this, to generate page views as people in the comments argue about cars in the core of the city.
Obviously
By BostonDog
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 10:42am
With so little snow the normal space-saver related pageview income must be way down.
At least he has the summer and posts about bikes and off-lease dogs to look forward to.
I Know You Can Lease Cattle, But Do People Really Lease Dogs?!!
By Elmer
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 11:13am
âŸâŸâŸâŸâŸâŸ[img]https://elmercatdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/lease-cattle.jpg[/img]
[sup]( unlike off-lease cattle, hopefully off-lease dogs don't get made into hamburger! )[/sup]
I Found Out You Actually Can Lease Dogs!
By Elmer
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 1:58pm
[img]https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5563c0f3e4b086159c461796/t/5597954de4b0499038925326/1436143671887/Home1.jpg?format=1500w[/img]
[sup]âŸâŸâŸAdorable![/sup]
A driver hits a pedestrian
By Kinopio
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 11:54am
A driver hits a pedestrian and possibly kills them earlier this week and drives away from the scene: crickets from the drivers. The city starts charging a rate that is still below market level for parking: HOW DARE THEY WE ARE TEH REAL VICTIMZ!!1!
$3.75 per hour for curbside parking is too much?
By GoSoxGo
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 10:33am
You can always go to a garage and pay at least $15 for the first hour if you prefer.
A problem with pricing public property
By Snuggles
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 10:49am
You make the price higher, and you turn it into another way to give public property to wealthy people.
Wealthy people don't like having trouble finding a parking space? Heaven forbid they should use public transit like normal people! Charge a fee for public property use, at a level that wealthy people don't notice, but that is prohibitive for more non-wealthy people. Wealthy people are now happy. Problem solved!
You could also argue that
By SteveE
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 11:20am
You could also argue that charging the wealthy high parking fees generates funds that can support services for people who are less fortunate. Say, for instance, those who cannot afford cars and need to take public transit. These people sit on a bus in traffic caused by people who decide to drive alone in their car. Fewer single occupant cars = less traffic and more accessibility for all.
Now I'm not saying that the meter money is used to subsidize transit, but on street parking isn't a right. There are streets that have no parking at all and people still make it to work, frequent businesses, etc.
The idea is that the average person makes the "wrong choice" to drive into the urban core; a decision based on cheap parking and convenience. That convenience comes at a cost for everyone. The City is trying to find the right balance and I commend them on trying that out with this TRIAL.
Damned if you do, Damned if you don't.
By anon²
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 11:38am
Supply & Demand curve is mostly a rule and not a guideline.
The truth is here, yes this tends to favor those who can and will pay for the ease of use. The fact remains that it is also a good way for the city to separate these lazy rich people from their money, while dealing with the lack of supply for a public good.
Turn around and push the money into housing, schooling, and transportation and it might be a good tradeoff. Even more so with our liberal progressive senabilitities if we can keep the rich from gaming the political system on the backside as is done so frequently.
Cars sitting in cheap public parking all day are really no good for anyone. Quick stop parking and walkable neighborhoods tend to drive neighborhood economics.
Consider this
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:01pm
Are there better things that this space could be used for? Renting it out for garden plots and such?
If it is truly public, then it should be available for more than just storing your private property of a very specific sort.
Think a little bigger - outside the metal box - and there is a lot of public good to be had with all this space.
Otherwise, realize that you are being subsidized and be quiet so that we don't all notice.
I don't drive
By Snuggles
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:21pm
Taking back public space back from cars would be extremely nice, but it's not going to happen in greedy and stubborn Boston.
While you are talking about turning parking spots into little public gardens, the wealthy will rob you blind, and you still won't get your pollution-infused zucchini.
Bus lanes
By amian
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 1:22pm
Or turn parking into dedicated bus lanes--public transit serves more people and should get priority. If the buses move better they will work better.
And realize...
By Greg Conyngham
Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:44pm
That this is the largest and most important retail area of the city and properly needs parking to continue as such. It's a joke to suggest that maybe this is better for garden plots-get a grip. This is more the tail of how to best manage urban properties for the best of the city, residents and visitors. Don't get me wrong-I hate cars and hate driving, parking and commuting. I'm an Architect who also studied (and worked on projects) in urban design-most in the wonderful city of Portland Oregon (which Boston is not). I spent my early years working on Public Transit projects there and ways to make the city walkable. But there is also the reality that this DOES NOT cover all aspects of what is needed for a urban retail shopping area that attracts visitors from all over the region and the world. It's great to see your comments and those of others that reflect your view of the world. That said, it is a very limited, and frankly, uneducated, view of proper solutions to urban design and infrastructure issues. Just saying...
Good God.
By whyaduck
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:23pm
It is not just "wealthy people", Snuggles. From time to time, I might need to drive into the city. And I do use public transit most of the time like, as you say, a normal person.
Perhaps you might not of noticed that our public transit, well, has some issues?
When You Need To Drive In, Do You Also Expect On-Street Parking?
By Elmer
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 2:21pm
The fact of the matter is, there aren't enough on-street parking spaces in Boston (or any major city) for the number of people who might wish to just drive in and park on the street. Even if every street in Boston had parking on both sides, there still wouldn't be enough spaces.
On those occasions when you need to drive into Boston, do you depend on also finding an on-street parking space? Do you always find spaces available? If not, how much time do you spend "circling the block" looking for a space to park?
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