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We were skeptical about the plan to open the Panhandle DMV lot for public parking. But Lisa Zahner, the city's Divisadero Corridor Manager, reassured us that the Planning Department doesn't anticipate a rise in traffic levels, since the surrounding streets are already so busy. And in fact, traffic might improve, since drivers won't have to circle the block to find parking. Not only that, but the city's hope is that people will use the lots to come into SF, and then use public transit to mosey on down to Golden Gate Park for the pedestrian-friendly weekends. (Note to city: shuttle buses might make that hope more likely to materialize.) The lot will only be open for public parking during the DMV's off hours and weekends; the rest of the time, it'll be dedicated for DMV use only. Well, that sounds alright then.
Parking won't be free -- but then, it never is. The city hasn't worked out the exact prices yet, but between the rent they'll pay to the state's DMV and the fees paid to a private parking management company, they expect to break even. Benefits to area merchants: a boost in foot-traffic. Benefits to out-of-towners: easy access to the panhandle, which will be especially nice once they can get that damn bandshell set up. The proposal is with the Parking Authority right now; they're expected to make a decision about it in June or July.
But what about car-sharing? Ah, that's a bit nebulous. The DMV would have to agree to donate some permanent spaces to make that work, since operations like CityCarShare needs to have the spots available 24/7. Although car-sharing is of major benefit to the city, the benefit to the DMV of such a magnanimous gesture isn't terribly clear. But what better advertisement for car-sharing could there be than a bunch of pretty, available hipster-mobiles parked outside, with a sign reading, "hey, for just $10 a month, you'll never have to pay for insurance, gas, repairs, or registration -- and you can say goodbye to those constant trips to the DMV."
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Thank god. This is a terrific idea..Why the hell were you skeptical about this, Matty Matt? Skeptical that it would ever happen? That was the only thing I was skeptical about? This is the best thing to happen in SF since I don't know what....Maybe the good folks at NoPa and the Independent could help subsidize parking in some way....What say you??
Skeptical that it wouldn't bring in more cars and slow down transit.
Traffic is kind of slow now anyways, at least on Broderick, where Broderick Place customer parking access is located. Having fee-for-parking would eliminate the straglers that don't move their wheels by the a.m.
Also, that lot used to be (unofficially, I think) open to night and weekend parking about 6 years back, until they put the gates up.
No, I don't think the parking should be subsidized, unless the merchants want to valet park there. Too hard to control.
If I'm not mistaken, aren't there carshare spots at the gas station on the corner of Fell & Divis?
They could also rent the spaces to a commecial outfit like Zipcar or Flexcar if they don't want to give them away free to CCS.
At Diviz and Fell, there are Zipcar spots, but no City Carshare.
Parkers,
When Willie was mayor, he pulled a few strings and got the DMV lot opened Sundays strictly for the use of a church down the street. Pissed the neighbors off plenty.
But then, they were mostly late-sleeping heathens.
h.
Yeah, the DMV was open for years for parking in the evenings and on weekends. It really helped alleviate the parking problem for those of us that live in the hood. They put up the yellow gates to keep that from happening because in order to be able to have vehicles towed from the DMV a CHP officer must ticket and call it in. DMV being state property and all. That was I suppose a problem for them to do or whatever so the solution was to put up gates. Why is reopening the parking a bad thing? I do think they should put in Zip cars even if you can get them 2 blocks away.
Panhandle Lady is right, the block on DMV parking is pretty new. In addition, you used to be able to park in the old Faletti lot (now Albertson's) at Masonic and Fulton during off hours. Once that lot went away, parking in the area got worse than ever, and losing those B of A spaces (also off hours available) sure didn't help.
Having the DMV open their spaces up seems a great idea to me, and could really help with the parking burden placed since the B of A and old Faletti lots went away.
Where are all the howls of protest from the hipsters who use that lot to learn how to ride thier trendy new mopeds? Oh that's right, you can't email a scowl.