Believe it or not, parking’s effects are as far-reaching as any important policy. A community’s parking options shape its culture, economics, and environment. It’s a dynamic and complicated topic: parking can reflect (or even spark) a neighborhood’s gentrifying tensions. It can empower or hamper under-served communities, like the disabled or elderly; it can create or take away billions of dollars in revenue. Parking effects pollution, safety, wealth, and, of course, accessibility. At MyParkingSign, we monitor and report the latest happenings in parking, be they bureaucratic, like increasing fines, technological, like a parking new app, or instructional, like how to manage parking legally and efficiently.
News
Study: License Restrictions Reduce Teen Drinking and Driving
Harsher legislation regarding teen driving systematically lowers the number of drunk driving fatalities, a new study says July 2, 2012 — A study published last week found that restricting teen driving effectively cuts down on drinking and driving at large. Set to be released in the September issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, the […]
Signage Debacle Highlights Misallocation of Funds in Local Government
In Trenton, New Jersey, this $17,000 sign was removed almost immediately after its unveiling (via NJ.com). June 29, 2012 — A new sign at Trenton’s Cadwalader Park has many local residents of the New Jersey city confused, concerned, and angry. On Monday, the park’s new sign, designed to look like a local landmark bridge, was […]
Idaho’s Texting and Driving Ban: Why Awareness Campaigns Will Fare Better
Idaho makes texting and driving a primary offense . June 27, 2012 — Starting next week, Idaho will become the 37th state to ban texting and driving, making it a primary offense. The bill defines texting as “engaging in the review of, or manual preparation and transmission of, written communications via handheld wireless devices.” The […]
Automated Parking Systems Step Forward for Volkswagen’s Minivans
The Volkswagen Caddy will feature an automated parking system (via themotorreport.com) June 25, 2012 — Last week, Volkswagen announced that its small urban van, the Volkswagen Caddy, will soon be equipped with an automatic parking system, making it the first economy van distributed in the United States to be loaded with such advanced software. Intelligent […]
10-Year-Old Saves Cyclist, Brings Awareness To Need for Safe Cycling
June 22, 2012 — Last week, a 10-year-old girl was struck by a car after running into the street to pull a young boy riding a bike to safety. While the boy was safely directed on to the sidewalk, a 1927 Model T hit the girl before she could join him. The girl, whose identity […]
New York Incentivizes Cleaner Streets With Reduced Parking Restrictions
Reduced parking restrictions in Brooklyn’s 7th district (via nyc.gov). June 20, 2012 — For drivers in parts of Sunset Park and Greenwood Heights, finding parking just got a bit easier. The Brooklyn Department of Transportation announced on June 15th that alternate side parking in Brooklyn’s 7th district will be suspended starting Monday, June 25th. The announcement […]
International Parking Institute announces top parking garages, focuses on environment
The International Parking Institute recognizes grade-A parking garage design, like that of Corcoran’s lots MyParkingSign.com June 18, 2012 — This past week, the International Parking Institute (IPI) recognized the nation’s top parking facilities, distributing Awards of Excellence to lots that demonstrated innovation and efficiency. In recent years, parking […]
Avoiding Rush Hour for a Cash Reward
Balaji Prabhakar is a Stanford professor who developed the idea for an incentive-driven traffic alleviation program. June 15, 2012 — If given the choice between a fine for getting in a traffic jam or a prize for avoiding one, which would you prefer? Drivers obviously choose the latter every time, but this question is the […]
Rhode Island Institutes Parking Spaces for Motorcycles
June 14, 2012 — Stencils like this will soon be used in Rhode Island parking lots after the passage of a new law requiring parking spots designated for motorcycles (via MyParkingSign.com) Rhode Island recently passed a law that will require the creation of motorcycle parking spots in the lots of state buildings. The law will […]
String of Parking Lot Fights Increases Awareness of Community Violence
Parking lots are often turned into stages of brutal violence, despite their typical proximity to public locations (via MyParkingSign.com). June 12, 2012 — Yesterday, two women were taken into custody after fighting in a Springfield, IL, parking lot. The day before, Morgan Myers, a pregnant 30-year-old woman, was stabbed to death following an altercation in a Walmart […]
New York City May Privatize 81,800 Parking Meters
June 11, 2012 — New York City may be privatizing a large quantity of its parking meters in an effort to increase capital. The Department of Transportation opened the market for companies, accepting formal applications from various corporations due July 31, 2012. Privately-owned meters may mean increased parking rates for New York City residents (via MyParkingSign.com) The […]