High-tech parking meters premiere in S.F. (Wireless meters rates increase with demand)

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | July 27, 2010 | Rachel Gordon

[Second Amendment First]

The goal of the $24.75 million pilot project, backed with nearly $20 million in federal funding, is to prevent cars from circling the block looking for parking and to reduce congestion and air pollution.

Initially, drivers only will notice new parking meters, which officials hope will be more convenient because they will accept coins, debit cards, credit cards and eventually the city's prepaid parking cards. When fully implemented, the trial will encompass 5,100 parking spaces in eight neighborhoods, or about 20 percent of the curbside spots with meters.

Starting early next year, parking officials will start adjusting the meter rates and time limits to gauge how that influences behavior. More than 8,000 wireless sensors will be embedded in the asphalt to monitor empty spaces and the amount of time each vehicle stays parked in one spot.

Rates will be adjusted based on demand.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/26/BA2P1EK39G.DTL#ixzz0ust5y0NN

[Second Amendment First]

As with commuter lanes, metered parking will eventually become a privilege for the wealthy. Use of cars in the city shall be for the ruling and moneyed classes. Everyone else get your stinky butts on mass transit and shut up about the bedbugs.

[Nervous Tick]

Driving a car in SF is a giant PITA anyway.

Parking is $30 per day.

When we go to trade shows in SF, we fly into SFO, take Bart to the city, and walk where we need to go.

YMMV

[Eye of Unk]

I wonder what would happen if one of these parking meters were accidentally zapped by a taser?

[relictele]

parking officials will start adjusting the meter rates and time limits to gauge how that influences behavior

And there you have the aim - nay, the dream - of EVERY liberal and his policies. Control.

[KarlInOhio]

I wonder what would happen if one of these parking meters were accidentally zapped by a taser?

Pipe cutters are more effective.

Cool Hand Luke, Part 1

[catnipman]

Pipe cutters are more effective.

Indeed. I was just sitting here wondering where Luke was when you really need him.

[catnipman]

Starting early next year, parking officials will start adjusting the meter rates and time limits to gauge how that influences behavior ... part of a two-year experiment to find out how pricing affects drivers' parking choices.

Hey, I have a news flash for these Commie fools: drivers will seek out the cheapest parking, INCREASING the amount of pollution by cars circling about looking for a parking place.

Oh, and another little tip for the idjuts in charge of Hippieville, use the $25,000,000 to build more parking spaces! Guaranteed to reduce pollution from cars circling about trying to find a space! More spaces = less circling.

[FourPeas]

Shoup popularized the theory that an 85 percent occupancy rate of on-street spaces would be the most efficient use of public parking....

He said exactly what price will get the city to that 85 percent target has yet to be determined. "It's like the Supreme Court's definition of pornography," he said. "I know it when I see it."

Likening increased governmental control with obscenity is quite appropriate.

[SmithL]

Under SFpark, the base price could range from 50 cents to $6. Rates could reach as high as $18 an hour for special events.

Hey! Sanctuary doesn't come cheap, you know.

[meyer]

Parking is free at Walmart.

And they wonder why people don’t want to go downtown.

[Paladin2]

“Free” PArking is what made America Great. Those places where one has to pay to park are to be eschewed as they are likely ‘Rat controlled and infested anyway.

[Greysard]

parking officials will start adjusting the meter rates and time limits to gauge [...]

There is an obvious typo here, so let me correct:

"parking officials will start adjusting the meter rates and time limits to gouge [...]"

That would be just 117^th reason for me to stay away from the accursed city. I still have to cross it when I go to North Bay.