Downtown Parking reply from the Mayors Office - Page 3

zx14rr · 05-25-2010, 01:42 PM

next thing u know people are going to be bitching about parking for the smart cars. lol

Robusto · 05-25-2010, 01:46 PM

And again. I don't commute on my bike.

Dramacydal · 05-25-2010, 01:50 PM

The real problem here is if you keep the other half of the sticker, send it into the city with proof of payment from a credit card statement, give them the sticker (small half or the whole thing) and a letter explaining the situation and the time on the ticket they will still keep half of your money unless you are willing to spend 3 hours in traffic court contesting and $15 ticket.

I know this because a sticker fell off my car window once and this happened exactly. In the end the city only cares about revenue from parking, not how you feel as a citizen about the parking situation, which they have proven by increasing price and hours of parking enforcement.

ddonacazx12 · 05-25-2010, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by lena

Here is the majority of my email to Dan Bower:

Originally Posted by lena

I have been looking for this example and finally found it (compliments of maverickbc). Here is the system that is used in Vancouver BC, provided by Verrus. I believe it's superior to the one in the example above because it works with any type of parking meter, as long as it has a location number which Portland meters do:
http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/parking/paybyphone.htm
Vancouver BC also provides shared motorcycle and scooter parking and currently they are looking into additional improvements. Vancouver's urban planning and transportation systems have always been a great example for Portland and maybe we can use it further to improve upon our City.

Just sent this to Mr Bower too.

Way, WAAAYYYY too easy and makes faarrrr too much sense.

No chance in hell they'll do that.

Not nearly complicated or expensive enough.

Good try thought Lena.

( much love )

yellowpens · 05-25-2010, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Dramacydal

The real problem here is if you keep the other half of the sticker, send it into the city with proof of payment from a credit card statement, give them the sticker (small half or the whole thing) and a letter explaining the situation and the time on the ticket they will still keep half of your money unless you are willing to spend 3 hours in traffic court contesting and $15 ticket.

I know this because a sticker fell off my car window once and this happened exactly. In the end the city only cares about revenue from parking, not how you feel as a citizen about the parking situation, which they have proven by increasing price and hours of parking enforcement.

Nah I don't agree.. they might do this for cars, but not moto's. With all 3 of my tickets, I just had to go in and tape my other half of my sticker to a paper and write an explanation on it. I refued to pay. It than stays on file for 6-12 months until the judge has time to look over it.

And the REAL problem is that they nixxed the machines that print out the other half of the sticker.

dscott3509 · 05-25-2010, 05:55 PM

Seems like they could ask the vendor to add a screen that asks whether the user wants a receipt or not. If the answer's yes, then two copies of the sticker are printed, one that has RECEIPT ONLY printed on it. Then push the software update to the machines.

recr8ton · 05-26-2010, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by dscott3509

Seems like they could ask the vendor to add a screen that asks whether the user wants a receipt or not. If the answer's yes, then two copies of the sticker are printed, one that has RECEIPT ONLY printed on it. Then push the software update to the machines.

Yes they could. That has been suggested, however, not addressed...like free parking.

Ash · 05-26-2010, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by recr8ton

Yes they could. That has been suggested, however, not addressed...like free parking.

As long as there is revenue to be gleaned through parking, it will never be free. Take a look at the number of spaces around town, times whatever the currently $/hr on the meters are, and you see just how much money they make every day. It's smart business to charge for something desirable like parking, especially considering the time-killer that public transportation is for most people.

recr8ton · 05-26-2010, 01:15 PM

True Ash, motorcycles are cash cows and it has to be brought to light.

In the core of Downtown (east of the park blocks, between Clay and Burnside) there are roughly 15 individual on-street Moto parking spots out of the hundreds of cars spots...

Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds all have to pay the same amount of money to use an on street parking spot that takes up 1/3 the space and are also encouraged to fit as many into a car sized space as will reasonably fit, as well as, share a space with a car so long as there is room and are with in the white boundary AND still pay the same amount to do so...but they are not required to, a motorcycle can take a whole parking space to it's self)...so about four motorcycles @ $1.60 per hr... that one parking spot is generating $6.40 per hr. and now this proof of payment debacle!!!

so what real incentive(s) is the city giving two wheeled operators to venture downtown?? NONE, if anything it's pushing them away.

The idea of a "motorcycle parking day" has been thrown around, maybe I'll look into that, get a few hundred bikes to park single occupancy in the core blocks for a Sunday afternoon...hell, it's free till 1pm even...

BlackSabbatical · 05-26-2010, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by recr8ton

Go back to your room and play WOW Rob, we got this.

Sounds like a plan

Daves02r6 · 05-27-2010, 12:23 AM

Motorcycles should be charged half price for parking just because we are saving gas,less pollution,take less space. It would be less interesting to the city if we are asking them to make special parking that would cost the tax payer a dime to make this happen.. So if maybe a single bike parks in a regular spot, this allows others to do the same, all pay at a reduced rate, and everybody wins... Really 4 bikes in one spot and all paying to park??? More cash for the city. The only way to get the city to make changes is to tape our ideas onto a 15 year old boy and send him into Sam Adams office.

recr8ton · 05-27-2010, 05:58 AM

Hey everybody, how about we knock off the Mayor bashing and "little boy" comments in this thread.

Not only is it inappropriate, it does nothing to help this issue. If you've got nothing positive to add to this in a constructive manner, please don't even bother replying.

dscott3509 · 05-27-2010, 06:33 AM

Logan, thanks, I was about to make the same request. Those comments are will just make a tough discussion tougher.

dscott3509 · 05-27-2010, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by recr8ton

so what real incentive(s) is the city giving two wheeled operators to venture downtown?? NONE, if anything it's pushing them away.

Actually, I see the city doing this in general. I don't need anything that downtown offers that I can't get elsewhere more conveniently. I started working from home last October, and I haven't been downtown since then.

matt007 · 05-27-2010, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by twiggie087

I swore I read in a few spots online that parking in the motorcycle parking spots (the very few that their are in dt Portland) was free. Though I guess I'm mistaken, but in my opinion I wouldn't want to stick anything on my bike. My bike hardly has a spot for anything to be mounted (no rear fender, tank bag, no front fairing, small Vapor gauge cluster, etc.) even the sleeves sound like a bad idea. Ideally I wish they would temp. pause us paying the meter till they find a antiquate way of catering to us riders. I think thats just wish full thinking though.

Right across from the main PSU office are a couple spots, all pay :/

recr8ton · 05-27-2010, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Originally Posted by twiggie087

I swore I read in a few spots online that parking in the motorcycle parking spots (the very few that their are in dt Portland) was free. Though I guess I'm mistaken, but in my opinion I wouldn't want to stick anything on my bike. My bike hardly has a spot for anything to be mounted (no rear fender, tank bag, no front fairing, small Vapor gauge cluster, etc.) even the sleeves sound like a bad idea. Ideally I wish they would temp. pause us paying the meter till they find a antiquate way of catering to us riders. I think thats just wish full thinking though.

Originally Posted by matt007

Right across from the main PSU office are a couple spots, all pay :/

There is a spot on the PDOT web site that mentions free parking, however, it's not really free...it's for two or three hours for businesses that validate your parking when you spend $25 or more in their store.

Here's a link to downtown on-street motorcycle parking CLINKY

wakeboredb · 07-29-2010, 11:00 AM

Anything new lately as to a resolution to our parking problem?

Tarnsman · 07-29-2010, 05:53 PM

This is only somewhat related, but for those who park downtown often it might be an option. The City of Portland SmartPark garages offer $30 per month parking for motorcycles. There is always a spot, its out of the rain, and its hassle free.

By the way, be warned about parking at Powell's bookstore downtown. The attendant tells you where to park when you arrive. He gave some very long instructions for how to find motorcycle parking, then informed me there was not a discount for motorcycles. I got halfway up into the garage, couldn't remember the rest of his instructions, and so I parked in a normal space as there were very few cars in the garage anyway. I walked back down to hand him my key, and he was furious that I had not obeyed his instructions and wanted me to move my bike. Did I mention it was 90+ degrees out and I am wearing full gear? I told him I would park in a special motorcycle place if he gave me a special price and asked he wanted the key or not before I walked away. Once inside, I had a nice conversation with a manager, but she didn't seem either very sympathetic to the idea that I had as much right to a full space paying full price for a bike that cost more than several of the beat up Subaru's in the lot put together. Since then I have checked Amazon and gone to a local coffee shop instead.

Oh, I have emailed Dan at the city.

Aprilia · 07-29-2010, 09:57 PM

Nice work, Logan... I'll throw my email that way. Keep working on it. You'll be a legend at Kelly's Olympian!

(my bike gets scratched by purses and shopping carts on the sidewalks...)

handicappedfunhouse · 08-01-2010, 09:52 PM

Portland has always been the city of protest. Why not just flood the street with bikes (pay for the parking) take up one spot with your bike, since you are paying full price. Call the news channels and have them cover it, interviewing people will set forth all of this. Not only that, but the 4 wheel guys will be irrate considering that they can not find a spot.


05-25-2010, 01:42 PM	#41
zx14rr Licensed Joined: Feb 2010 From: oregon	next thing u know people are going to be bitching about parking for the smart cars. lol __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


05-25-2010, 01:46 PM	#42
Robusto Moto2 Contender Joined: Aug 2006 From: Spokane, WA I Ride: Cuz' it makes me smile!	And again. I don't commute on my bike. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


05-25-2010, 01:50 PM	#43
Dramacydal Newbie Joined: May 2010 From: Portland, OR	The real problem here is if you keep the other half of the sticker, send it into the city with proof of payment from a credit card statement, give them the sticker (small half or the whole thing) and a letter explaining the situation and the time on the ticket they will still keep half of your money unless you are willing to spend 3 hours in traffic court contesting and $15 ticket. I know this because a sticker fell off my car window once and this happened exactly. In the end the city only cares about revenue from parking, not how you feel as a citizen about the parking situation, which they have proven by increasing price and hours of parking enforcement. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


05-25-2010, 05:55 PM	#46
dscott3509 Parts Collector Joined: Aug 2008 From: Milwaukie I Ride: Triumph Tiger 800	Seems like they could ask the vendor to add a screen that asks whether the user wants a receipt or not. If the answer's yes, then two copies of the sticker are printed, one that has RECEIPT ONLY printed on it. Then push the software update to the machines. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


05-26-2010, 01:15 PM	#49
recr8ton Novice Racer Joined: Mar 2007 From: Portland/Beaverton I Ride: like a sniper at your back door!	True Ash, motorcycles are cash cows and it has to be brought to light. In the core of Downtown (east of the park blocks, between Clay and Burnside) there are roughly 15 individual on-street Moto parking spots out of the hundreds of cars spots... Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds all have to pay the same amount of money to use an on street parking spot that takes up 1/3 the space and are also encouraged to fit as many into a car sized space as will reasonably fit, as well as, share a space with a car so long as there is room and are with in the white boundary AND still pay the same amount to do so...but they are not required to, a motorcycle can take a whole parking space to it's self)...so about four motorcycles @ $1.60 per hr... that one parking spot is generating $6.40 per hr. and now this proof of payment debacle!!! so what real incentive(s) is the city giving two wheeled operators to venture downtown?? NONE, if anything it's pushing them away. The idea of a "motorcycle parking day" has been thrown around, maybe I'll look into that, get a few hundred bikes to park single occupancy in the core blocks for a Sunday afternoon...hell, it's free till 1pm even... __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


05-27-2010, 12:23 AM	#51
Daves02r6 Licensed Joined: Jun 2007 From: Tigard I Ride: 02 R6	Motorcycles should be charged half price for parking just because we are saving gas,less pollution,take less space. It would be less interesting to the city if we are asking them to make special parking that would cost the tax payer a dime to make this happen.. So if maybe a single bike parks in a regular spot, this allows others to do the same, all pay at a reduced rate, and everybody wins... Really 4 bikes in one spot and all paying to park??? More cash for the city. The only way to get the city to make changes is to tape our ideas onto a 15 year old boy and send him into Sam Adams office. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


05-27-2010, 05:58 AM	#52
recr8ton Novice Racer Joined: Mar 2007 From: Portland/Beaverton I Ride: like a sniper at your back door!	Hey everybody, how about we knock off the Mayor bashing and "little boy" comments in this thread. Not only is it inappropriate, it does nothing to help this issue. If you've got nothing positive to add to this in a constructive manner, please don't even bother replying. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


05-27-2010, 06:33 AM	#53
dscott3509 Parts Collector Joined: Aug 2008 From: Milwaukie I Ride: Triumph Tiger 800	Logan, thanks, I was about to make the same request. Those comments are will just make a tough discussion tougher. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-29-2010, 11:00 AM	#57
wakeboredb Endorsed Joined: Aug 2009 From: Tigard, OR I Ride: 2007 Aprilia Tuono	Anything new lately as to a resolution to our parking problem? __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-29-2010, 05:53 PM	#58
Tarnsman Training Wheels Joined: Apr 2009 From: Beaverton, OR I Ride: teutonic engineering	This is only somewhat related, but for those who park downtown often it might be an option. The City of Portland SmartPark garages offer $30 per month parking for motorcycles. There is always a spot, its out of the rain, and its hassle free. By the way, be warned about parking at Powell's bookstore downtown. The attendant tells you where to park when you arrive. He gave some very long instructions for how to find motorcycle parking, then informed me there was not a discount for motorcycles. I got halfway up into the garage, couldn't remember the rest of his instructions, and so I parked in a normal space as there were very few cars in the garage anyway. I walked back down to hand him my key, and he was furious that I had not obeyed his instructions and wanted me to move my bike. Did I mention it was 90+ degrees out and I am wearing full gear? I told him I would park in a special motorcycle place if he gave me a special price and asked he wanted the key or not before I walked away. Once inside, I had a nice conversation with a manager, but she didn't seem either very sympathetic to the idea that I had as much right to a full space paying full price for a bike that cost more than several of the beat up Subaru's in the lot put together. Since then I have checked Amazon and gone to a local coffee shop instead. Oh, I have emailed Dan at the city. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter Last edited by Tarnsman; 07-29-2010 at 06:15 PM.. Reason: Added content


07-29-2010, 09:57 PM	#59
Aprilia Sweep Crusader Joined: May 2009 From: Portland, Oregon I Ride: for therapeutic reasons.	Nice work, Logan... I'll throw my email that way. Keep working on it. You'll be a legend at Kelly's Olympian! (my bike gets scratched by purses and shopping carts on the sidewalks...) __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


08-01-2010, 09:52 PM	#60
handicappedfunhouse Licensed Joined: Feb 2009 From: Portland, Oregon I Ride: 12 speed huffy	Portland has always been the city of protest. Why not just flood the street with bikes (pay for the parking) take up one spot with your bike, since you are paying full price. Call the news channels and have them cover it, interviewing people will set forth all of this. Not only that, but the 4 wheel guys will be irrate considering that they can not find a spot. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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