» Park It! Blog

Can I Park Here app
February 5, 2012

Joshua Brustein from The New York Times just reviewed a new parking app called ‘Can I Park Here’. The app lets you take a photograph of a NYC street parking sign, and then the app will tell you if you can park there or not, and for how long. Once you decide to park, the app will start a timer and mark your location so you don’t overstay the meter or allotted time and get a NYC parking ticket. Totally cool and pretty simple, right?

Brustein tested about a dozen NYC parking spaces, though, and the app just didn’t work for him. The app reported that Brustein wasn’t actually close enough to the NYC parking sign, but even when he put his phone about one foot from the parking sign and took the photo, no luck. He eventually found out Read more…

Filed under: NYC Street Parking,Parking & Traffic Tickets,Parking Apps,Parking Tickets — Tags: , , — mtohn @ 8:57 am
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Muni-Meter Changes
February 1, 2012

NYC muni-meter for street parkingLast year, we told you that you could use a NYC Muni-Meter receipt at more than one NYC street parking spot. So if you purchased 3 hours and only used 2 hours, you could still use that receipt for the third hour if you needed to park somewhere else — that also had a NYC Muni-Meter.

Sadly, that convenience may be changing. The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) is considering changing the rules so that you can use what’s left on the Muni-Meter receipt ONLY at a meter that charges the same rates. Read more…

Filed under: NYC Parking Card/Muni Meters,NYC Street Parking,Parking & Traffic Tickets,Parking Tickets — Tags: , , — mtohn @ 5:51 pm
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No More Privacy in Cars

Cell_Phone_While_Driving

What if Your Phone Were Embedded in the Steering Wheel?

It used to be that once you were in your car, the only connection with the outside world was through the radio. Then came the overhead highway signs alerting us to road conditions. Now, the mobile phone and in-vehicle technology have truly made ‘Connected Cars’ the norm.

Both the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2012 had people reeling at the in-vehicle technology letting people use Facebook, buy movie tickets, download music, check the weather, book a dinner reservation, and check stock prices.

But at what cost? The access points for in-vehicle technology range from touchpads on the steering wheel to audible commands to waving your hand across the windshield. Read more…

Filed under: Driving & Traffic News,Parking & Driving Advice — Tags: , — mtohn @ 5:24 pm
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Women are Better Parkers
January 30, 2012
NCP Parking Study, Women are better parkers than men

Results of the Women vs. Men Parking Study

The long debate is over — women are better at parking than men!

Who Finds a Parking Space Quicker?

Women are better at finding a parking space. They’re more patient and drive a little slower while looking, so they’re better equipped to glimpse that empty spot or see when someone is about to leave a parking space. Disclosure: this study focused on public parking garages, not street parking.

Who Has a Better Pre-Parking Pose?

It’s all in the preparation. If you start out correctly, then it’s really easy to park perfectly and impress all those around you. But if you try to wing it, then you’ll be going between Drive and Reverse enough times to embarrass yourself. Once again, women ranked higher in this category with 77% scoring ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’ vs 53% of the men getting the thumbs up.

Back Into the Spot or Just Drive Right In? Read more…

Filed under: NYC Parking,Parking & Driving Advice — Tags: , , — mtohn @ 3:10 pm
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Pay the Subway Fare or Pay $500

If you jump the NYC subway turnstile or scoot through the emergency exit, think again. The NY State Senate just passed a bill to fine you $500 for trying to save on the $2.25 fare.  The current fine is $100.

If the NY State Assembly passes the bill, then it’s the law.

We were thinking, ‘What’s a few people beating the fare? How much can it really cost NYC?’ Get ready to pick your jaw up from the floor, because the MTA estimates that all that turnstile jumping in the NYC subway loses the MTA $31 million every year.

The bill was drafted by Senator Charles Fuschillo (R – Long Island), who also serves as Chairman of the NY State Senate’s Transportation Committee. Fuschillo initiated the increase after the NY Daily News broke the news about a NYC Transit study showing that most regular fare-beaters get caught and fined $100 once every six to 13 weeks. At that rate, it’s cheaper to just pay the $100 fine rather than buy 6 weekly MetroCards.

According to a recent Daily News story by Pete Donohue, the MTA has the authority to increase fines for violating the Rules of Conduct.

 

Filed under: MTA MetroCard,Subways — Tags: , , , , , — mtohn @ 1:13 pm
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I Beat A Parking Ticket
January 25, 2012
Margot Tohn NYC parking sign

One of the NYC Street Parking Signs

Yes, it can be done! With the expert advice and help of New York Parking Ticket, I beat a NYC parking ticket for No Standing. Here’s what happened:

On October 16, 2011, I parked on Greenwich Street in lower Manhattan. I, along with a lawyer, read the parking signs for about 5 minutes before we decided that it was fine to park there on a Sunday afternoon. The immediate area had a series of NYC parking signs including:

  • No Standing 6AM – 10AM Except Sunday
  • No Standing Except Buses, Metered Parking 3 hr Limit 10AM – 3PM Except Sunday
  • Bus Layover Zone, No Standing Except Authorized Buses, 3PM – 7Pm Except Sunday
  • No Standing Except Trucks Loading & Unloading 6AM – 10AM Except Sunday
  • 3PM – 7Pm Except Sunday
  • Other Times No Standing Anytime

To make it even more confusing, some of the signs were in red and others were in white. In NYC, a street parking sign’s level of importance uses the colors Red, White, and then Blue, with Red being the most important to follow.

Margot Tohn NYC Parking Ticket Sign

This was near where I parked, and I showed the Street Signs as well

New York Parking Ticket advised me to Read more…

Filed under: NYC Street Parking,Parking & Traffic Tickets,Parking Tickets — Tags: , — mtohn @ 5:11 pm
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Is Your Street Closed?
January 22, 2012

How frustrating is it to be driving along in NYC and then find yourself taking a major detour because of a parade, street fair, or construction? Well, hassle be gone! NYC has just come out with a very cool map of Street Closures. You can search by date and time, and the map will show you any street closed because of Con Ed, events, large contractors, and the Department of Transportation. The image above tells us that E 45th St between 2nd & 1st Aves will be closed all day on January 22, 2012. The map is also great if you’re looking for NYC street parking.

PS. We heard about this cool map from Transportation Nation.

Filed under: NYC Street Parking — Tags: — mtohn @ 5:16 pm
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NYC Street Parking App

Tired of driving around NYC for street parking? It might get easier, with NYC testing out sensors that will tell you — on your smartphone — if a NYC street parking space is vacant or available. Right now, the test is happening at 177 street parking spaces at E 187th St & Belmont in the Bronx. The test is to see if these street sensors can withstand a NYC winter of snow and street cleaners. If that goes well, then NYC plans to implement a full test.

Do we like this idea?

PROS

  • You can find a vacant spot and beat other people to it.
  • Based on how the technology works, we all could find parking quicker, decrease congestion from all that driving around, and reduce pollution from car exhaust.

CONS

  • You could get a NYC parking ticket for using your phone to check the street parking. That could cost you up to $100 and even points on your license for a ‘Distracted Driving’ ticket.
  • Depending on how many other people are looking for NYC street parking, that vacant space could become occupied right after you see it’s vacant, so you’ll be driving around even more looking for parking.

Read the full article in the NY Daily News.

Filed under: NYC Street Parking,Parking News — Tags: , — mtohn @ 5:06 pm
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Test Your Driving Skills
January 18, 2012

We all hear how texting while driving, talking on the telephone, checking your GPS, picking up things from the car floor, and reaching back to check on children in the back seat increases your risk of getting into a car accident. All these activities fall into the category of ‘Distracted Driving’. Now there’s a new online game that tests your driving skills while you’re being distracted by pedestrians, speed traps, disabled vehicles, and GPS.

Developed at the University of Minnesota, the ‘Distraction Dodger’ game has you driving a pizza truck and trying to deliver a hot pizza to pedestrians on the street, all while you’re being interrupted by all the usual elements of distracted driving. Every time you deliver a hot pizza, you earn money. With more money, you get more distractions and greater access to your delivery area.

It took me a while to get the hang of accelerating and braking (hint: every time you touch the correct key it moves the spedometer 5 mph), but after a while it can be fun. You’ll be tempted by texting while driving, dogs crossing the street, adjusting the radio, waving to friends, parked cars, and police sirens.  All these distracted driving factors can earn you a NYC parking ticket, give it a try!

 

 

Filed under: Parking & Traffic Tickets,Parking Tickets — Tags: , , , — mtohn @ 9:44 am
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Gridlock Alert Days 2011
December 13, 2011

There are 9 days identified as Gridlock Alert Days for 2011.  Drive only if you really, really, really have to.

  • Friday, November 18
  • Wednesday, November 23
  • Wednesday, November 30
  • Friday, December 9
  • Thursday, December 15
  • Friday, December 16
  • Wednesday, December 21
  • Thursday, December 22
  • Friday, December 23
On a Gridlock Alert Day, it’s best to take public transportation. If you have to drive, park out the outskirts in a NYC parking garage and then take public transportation or work. Believe us, it’s worth the cost of the NYC parking garage to avoid the hassles of a NYC Gridlock Alert day and to know that your vehicle is safe in a NYC garage.
Filed under: Parking & Driving Advice — Tags: , , — mtohn @ 4:34 pm
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