Early Data From SFPark: Drivers Still Flock to Blocks With Pricey Parking
In April, San Francisco launched the nation's most innovative program to price and manage parking. By adjusting meter rates month-to-month based on demand, the federally-funded SFPark aims to open up more curbside spaces and reduce traffic caused by motorists cruising for parking.
The early data is in, and it shows that driving customers aren't fleeing from districts where parking prices have been raised considerably. In fact, they aren't responding as much as anticipated.
Michael Perkins at Greater Greater Washington explains:
To date, the most crowded blocks have typically continued to be crowded even after adjusting the prices upward, while under-occupied blocks have not filled up even after dropping the price.
If the pricing spread continues to widen, parking on some blocks in San Francisco will be a considerable bargain compared to spaces even one block away. One particular block in the Civic Center area is $0.75/hr while the next block is $3.25/hr until noon, and then $3.75/hr from noon until 3pm.
Even these steep price differences don't seem to be causing the cheaper blocks to fill up. Blocks in the program that end up below their target occupancy will again have their prices reduced during the next round of adjustments.
This performance parking experiment is demonstrating that on high-demand blocks, drivers are very insensitive to price increases. The experiment is also showing that parking demand is highly localized, with price differences of as much as 100% continuing even through two adjustment cycles.
In New York, the performance parking program called ParkSmart has not affected occupancy rates very much, but it has been shown to increase turnover and reduce traffic. Perkins speculates that this might be the case in San Francisco as well:
Even if blocks are missing their target occupancy, performance parking could still be having a positive effect. Are the prices leading to a higher turnover in available spaces? And if so, are the available spaces leading to a reduction in drivers hunting for parking, as the theory suggests?
Several commenters at GGW noted that SFPark may need to do a better job delivering information about parking prices to drivers, if the system is going to achieve the desired effect.
Elsewhere on the Network: Baltimore Spokes shares a video that attempts to explain why many people hate cyclists. Wash Cycle encourages Maryland to adopt a policy that would legalize changing lanes in no passing zones for drivers passing cyclists. And Bike Friendly Oak Cliff explains the importance of street form.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
We Have the ‘End of Days’ Flooding Pics You Need Right Now
It's bad out there. How bad? Here is a citywide roundup from our staff ... and our friends on social media.
Friday’s Headlines: Crystal Hudson’s Idea of Leadership Edition
Today's headlines are long, but worth it!
Labor Gains: Judge Tosses App Giants’ Suit to Stop Deliverista Minimum Wage
Justice Nicholas Moyne cleared the way for a long-delayed wage hike for workers who brave dangerous roads to bring food directly to New Yorkers.
Fed Up Bronxites Tell Mayor To Forget About Bus Ride Invitation After Fordham Road ‘Betrayal’
"I really would think that our mayor would be a little bit more active and speak with us, because he hasn't really made any time with riders. We're not the enemy. We just want better bus service."
City Pays $150K to Settle Suit Over Cops Who Harassed Man Who Reported Police Parking Misconduct
Justin Sherwood and his lawyer will pocket $152,000 to settle his federal civil rights suit against the city and several officers who harassed him following his 311 calls.
