Stupid City

OK, so here is a picture of the side street outside my place of work in the old "jewelry district" of downtown Providence. There are health care -related buildings and offices all around the area, not too mention parts of a college and other assorted businesses. This picture was taken on a week day, at about 1:30 PM.

And here's the deal. Up until about a year ago, there were no parking meters on the street. There were simply signs that said "2 Hour Parking". they also have (and had) a "Parking Control Officer" who patrolled the neighborhood and ticketed any cars that were there longer than the allotted time.

This side street had EVERY SPACE taken every single weekday all year long.

THEN, in it's brilliance, the city decided to put in new, expensive, digital, 2-hour parking meters. The idea, I presume, was to collect cash for all the time that people were parked there, AND from the tickets that were issued to people still parked there after the meter expired.

These meters must cost a TON. Then there's the cost of drilling the sidewalk holes and installing the meters. There is STILL the cost of the Parking Control Officer - that hasn't changed.

Actually, all that HAS changed is that NO ONE PARKS THERE AT ALL. Nor do the park anywhere ELSE in the neighborhood where the new meters were installed. Any street that has the meters is basically vacant all day long now. And has been for a year plus.

WAY. TO. GO.

Thanks for inconveniencing people AND losing the city money. Excellent planning.