Parking Transaction Time In Rockville Town Square
Jul 8, 2009 8:30 - 19 Comments
As everyone knows, I started out as a real booster for the parking system that we have in Town Square. I thought it was pretty neat and I enjoyed interacting with it.
But with use, I’ve discovered to my frustration that every transaction just seems to take longer than it should. I know I am an impatient fellow, but I am often tapping my toe in frustration. In fact, I will go out of my way to use a parking meter, driving blocks out of my way, because it is faster to feed a meter than the machines.
I know part of that is definitely me. But I wanted to check and see just how long it takes to park, under the best of circumstances. So I made this video:
As you can see, the transaction took almost one full minute, from the point at which I pressed the “go” button until when it said I was done. Yes, I talked a little bit in the transaction, but I also had a perfect dollar bill at the ready and I wasted no time wondering what to do next with each screen — so I think this was a very fair test.
Certainly much fairer than the video I started to shoot a few days earlier, when there were people ahead of me in line:
I am not someone who thinks we need to provide free parking — we’ve got to pay for it somehow. But, I think that we need to make it easy to pay.
Some options are:
- Upgrade software (is this possible)
- Gate-and-ticket system like most county garages
- Parking meters at every stall
- Some kind of EZ-Pass type prepay system
The key here is convenience, in my mind. The system has to work speedily and easily.
I am certain this is now cost prohibitive, so I am probably just compaining. If even ten percent of people are exhibiting the same characteristics as me, we are leaving revenue on the table.
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I am an avid supporter/user of the CashKey system in Bethesda. Rockville could participate opening an office in Rockville and put 3 people to work (the typical amount I see in Garage 42). http://tinyurl.com/lk7gdk
I am an avid supporter of free parking and have been for a long time. The system is too cumbersome and bad for the businesses and the parkers. Not only does it take too long, if you happen to not estimate correctly how long you are going to park and shop longer than you thought, you have to go back and go through the same torturous process again!! Ugh!!!
I’ve also said before that I’m handicapped. Several times I’ve parked at the handicapped spots, gotten either my walker out or assembled my battery-operated scooter (both of which are taxing and time-consuming) only to find that the elevator where the handicapped parking spots are is out of order. So, I have to pack up my handicapped gear and go find an elevator, which works. Ugh again!!!
My family and many of my friends have limited going to Town Square, because of the terrible parking situation. Or when we have gone, we’ve done like you, Brad, gone out of our way to find street parking or parked somewhere else to avoid the idiotic Town Square parking. The City is being “penny wise and pound foolish,” in my opinion, and it’s going to catch up with them, soon. People are just going to slowly but surely decrease their visits to Town Square, because of miserable parking situation, which has many, many drawbacks. I say, “Dump it!”
OMG, stop whining already!
It’s a parking system. It works all over the world. Is it the best for Rockville? Maybe yes, maybe no; obviously some leaders in the City’s history thought it the best fit. Were they right? Maybe yes, maybe no. But it works. Is anyone seriously suggesting discarding the system and spending tens of thousands of dollars (perhaps hundreds) to replace it with a different one?
If you really make a decision whether or not to visit Town Square based on how much you like or dislike the parking pay system, I suggest getting a life – preferably somewhere far away from Town Square (or even better, outside of Rockville).
Meanwhile, new businesses are voting with their feet, by replacing businesses that close faster than anywhere else in the City (check out the cool new gallery that just replaced the phone store). I guess the new business owners are not too worried about the few crazies that would rather drive by Town Square and take 15 minutes each way to drive to Rio at a round-trip car cost of perhaps $2 (gas and wear and tear), just to avoid spending extra 30 seconds to pay $1 per hour at Town Square.
Thanks for being so positive. I know that your thoughts represent the vast majority of Rockville residents. And you are right, the new replacement retail is coming in astonishingly quickly. Have you seen the crowds in Town Square and the kids frolicking in the fountain? We’re a hit! I for one am okay with that.
i find the parking easy and simple. i attend a lot of events as well as shop at Town Square…sometimes dinner, too and have always found parking and elevators quickly and with ease.I have 8 grandchildren so i always seem to have a few kids with me.Town square is a hit with us.
Looks like I am in the minority here!
That’s OK, we don’t all agree all the time.
I just want to remind everyone that YES, I am a Town Square booster.
Anonymous, I think your reply where you suggest me “…getting a life – preferably somewhere far away from Town Square (or even better, outside of Rockville)” is offensive. It is also abusive, since you did not identify yourself. Just because you disagree with what I wrote should not allow you to be abusive, in this blog. I think the moderator of these replies should have contacted you and deleted some of your comments. “The Washington Post,” in its “replies or “posts” has a way to report abuse. After reading your comment, I think this blog needs a way to do that, too.
Then, the mayor replies, “Thanks for being so positive.” right after your reply where you wrote, “OMG, stop whining already!” and you ” suggest (me) getting a life – preferably somewhere far away from Town Square (or even better, outside of Rockville)” The mayor continues by writing, “I know your comments represent the vast majority of Rockville residents.” Whoa!! That is really hard to accept.
Just because the Mayor and a few other people who have posted replies, on this blog, like the Town Square’s parking system doesn’t mean the majority of the people in Rockville do. Not everybody reads and replies to Rockville Central, so while the replies are often interesting and enlightening, they are not a true sample of Rockville’s population.
Anonymous,
One more thing. Do you suggest that I get out of Rockville because I don’t like the Town Square’s parking system, because I am handicapped, or both?
I’m pretty sure the Mayor was responding to just the first sentence in Anonymous’ last paragraph, which was positive about Town Square’s businesses in general (and with which I agree).
FYI, apropos of this exchange, I have written a “comment policy reminder.”
I’m with Brad in that I think there are better parking systems out there. I liked the cashkey system when I used to work in Bethesda. Just from a customer experience point of view, you want to make it as easy as possible for people to use. The easier it is, the more likely people will comply. I always thought that having to remember the number of your parking space was a major weakness for this reason. I also don’t like that it works only in one hour increments. Often I just want a coffee from Starbucks or grab a meal to go and all the metered parking is taken so I just don’t bother. Even though it’s just a dollar it’s a waste to pay for an entire hour when I need just 5-10 minutes. I do make a point of trying not to go to the gym until after 7 pm so I can park for free.
I think the user who wrote “suggest getting a life” was using common vernacular to say “this isn’t something worth getting worked up about.”
My uncle is handicapped and says, essentially, he recognizes that there is an added overhead to him getting around anywhere, and even some places he just can’t go. But he also says that he has more opportunities for mobility here in America at this day in age than any other time in human history.
I think I have paid for parking maybe 4 times. Usually I walk or bike. I drive on winter nights to exercise there. Which is why it is going to suck when they charge for parking after 7pm. Half hour or 15 minute increment parking is the way to go.
Ultimately, though, if someone doesn’t like the experience – then just don’t go. Concentrate on somewhere that you enjoy more.
Economist Milton Friedman said “there is no free lunch.” There is also no “free parking.” You pay for it in the products you buy or services you buy at your destination. Somebody always pays. There is no magic parking fairy that waves a wand and makes big free garages just appear. The space you put a car is worth quite a bit more than the car itself, especially around here. One way another, those garage bonds will have to be paid back. By us taxpayers, by people who use the garages, by customers of the restaurants.
Like Alice, I too avoid Town Center for certain activities. If you want to pick up a pizza at Primo, you have to find parking, and usually meters are taken. I tried double parking and calling from outside, but the roving enforcers were quick to tell me to move or get a ticket. Same is true with the bank…if I need to use an inside service I have to drive out of the way to the branch on 355. Ditto for Starbucks, or take out at any of the other restaurants. There is supposed to be a 10 minute spot or two for just this purpose, but they are usually taken by long term parkers and complaints to the enforcers have gone unanswered.
I am confused by the JJ post above: is the parking enforcement too aggressive or not aggressive enough?
Aggressive when it comes to tickets, not so much in making sure people aren’t abusing the spots reserved for library dropoffs (Maryland Avenue) and for 10 minute takeout order pickup, dry cleaning business, etc in the open lot on North Washington.
I’m always surprised that there are so many empty parking spaces in front of the old Giant on North Washington, since it’s just a half-block walk from Town Center. Either people would just rather park in the paid parking lot and not walk, or else there must be some incredibly effective ticket enforcement in the old Giant lot.
Here is what I think. And I’m surprised no one has brought it up before. I think the city has to charge for parking or else the commuters who ride the metro from the rockville station will park in the garages for free. You know that would happen! and then there could be no empty spaces for the shoppers/diners.
I think Rio is incomparable to Town Center and Rio is fantastic. However, they have much land at their disposal, no metro stop walking distance away and vastly more shops, restaurants and a few hotels.
I am not a fan of Rockville Town Center nor the mayor council as a whole but I do feel charging for parking is necessary.
Though i will admit that is a huge reason why I don’t go there.
I feel for the people who need to pay to work out at golds gy. i didn’t think of that. that is a shame! and to pay a dollar when you want to grab a cappuccino is ridiculous too. So yes, I would drive a bit farther even with high gas prices, even with wear and tear on my car. And guess what? if I drive all the way to tRio I have more shopping to do while I’m drinking my cappuccino. Like a hardware store, home goods stores that aren’t overspriced and won’t go out of business tomorrow.
Town center sucks for many reasons but I feel the council needs to charge for parking due to the metro.
If you live anyplace long enough, you see that things are cyclic. I used to live near Rio about ten years ago, and it was a rather desolate place. They had a very hard time finding tenants for awhile – just about the only functioning businesses in that building were the movie theater and the Hamburger Hamlet. They eventually found their identity, and now they’re successful. I got mugged in the Rio parking lot, which was a very frightening place back then.
The parking software is terrible. System is fine — I just think they need a software update. Also, would it kill them to allow you to buy 15 minutes?