Anyway, that is a terrible pun.

However, to make this really work for our downtown, the structures have to consistently cost less. If you’re talking about demand pricing, then you have to make the premium slots (street parking) more expensive.

I am aware that my view is an unpopular one, but I would advocate enforcing meters until at least 10pm with a one hour maximum. Better yet, a half hour maximum. Why does anyone expect to park on the street and spend an evening downtown?

Long-term (one hour or more) parking in the structures, short-term parking on the street. Come on folks, there is no place in downtown Ann Abor that is more than 3 blocks from a structure. And there is never a time when those structures are full. If you want to make an argument for 1 or 2 or whatever hours free in the structures, fine, there is merit in that.

But street parking should be for quick in and outs at retailers, carry outs from restaurants, drop offs at the library, coffee pick ups, shoe repairs, bank runs, convenience type stuff, etc.

Street parking should not be for leisurely dinners, movies, music lessons, window shopping/strolling, etc.

I think the merchants associations are listening to the wrong people and not looking at the bigger picture. I, for one, actually spend a lot less money downtown because the current system doesn’t provide for fast enough turnover at meters. If I knew that I could drive around a couple of blocks and find a space for a quick in and out at a retailer or to pick up a carry out, I would probably be spending twice what I do downtown.