Al explains his outrage over the imminent parking-lot rate increases at MBTA commuter-rail stops:
... I mean we're talking about a 100% increase in parking rates. If I got even 5% more service in return, maybe I wouldn't be so pissed, but I know I will get 0% and that's what makes me angry. I'm mad that I pay nearly $200 a month for a pass and will now pay $80 to park and I still have to trek down to the cashier's office every month for a pass because we don't have the tap system and I'm gonna have to shove $4 in ones or in quarters in an antiquated metal slot-box to pay for parking because the T is probably in waaay too much debt to update the parking system - heaven forbid we update a system anyways, right? How long did we have tokens? Right. So I can depend on shoving $4 in the slot boxes for at least another decade before we get a machine that will give us a receipt. Awesomeness. ...
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Comments
why not CharlieCards for parking?
By Ron Newman
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 10:39am
Perhaps this rate increase would be easier to take if the T converted the parking lots and garages to accept stored-value Charlie Cards. Wasn't this part of the plan for Charlie?
Thats what DC does, and I
By ShadyMilkMan
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 11:05am
Thats what DC does, and I believe the Octopus card in Tokyo (I think its Tokyo) does it as well (in addition to being usable at many transit accessible stores.)
Parking Meter
By pahkcah02
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 11:18am
Or install one of those electronic meters that allow you to use your credit card, like all those big city folk in Boston get to use. Just swipe your card, have it print a ticket, and stick the ticket in your windshield. The ticket can then double as a receipt.
I don't commute but I'd be pretty pissed about the new rates. Keep fighting the good fight, Al.
Big City Folk Parking Meters
By liveinvt
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 11:35am
Yes, in fact, you can have them! They're horrible for bikers looking for a legal and unobtrusive place to park.
Bummer
By liveinvt
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 11:38am
Sure sounds like the stress factory is working overtime for the private transit commuters. I always thought the commie rail was less-evil than the T itself, and teased with the notion of moving away from downtown, but this sure doesn't appeal to those desires :(
On top of everything else
By ShadyMilkMan
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 12:07pm
On top of everything else the daily rate at Alewife went up... AGAIN! I think its 7 bucks. Maybe WBZ should look into why people are paying 7 dollars to park, then 2 dollars or more each way (11 bucks so far) and thats parking on the outskirts of Cambridge, its not like they are even going to have a chance to relax on the way in.
re: On top of
By liveinvt
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 1:43pm
And don't get me started on bike cages! (j/k)
I charge about $150/ month for my brookline parking spot. 150/30 = $5 per day (weekends included) so that's only barely better, but has a potentially much more ideal location depending on your job site.
I'd like to move to alewife / arlington area, and if I had a parking spot at my residence, I'd probably get a 49cc Honda Metropolitan scooter for Alewife commuting so I didn't legally need a parking spot... (and a motorcycle, because I have my license, and it's fun)
Well if your spot is near
By ShadyMilkMan
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 2:40pm
Well if your spot is near the Green Line its worth more then a 7 dollar spot at Alewife. Ive always found Green to be the most convenient of the lines.
Well...
By anon
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 9:21am
Why don't you just drive your car into town, or take a taxi? I'm sure those are cheaper than the T.
Oh wait...
Hahaha, shaddup fatty!
a decade of $4
By anon
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:28am
You won't have to stick $4 into a metal slot for a decade... surely by then you'll be sticking a $20 into that slot long before!