--- "Gustavo Lacerda (mediaone)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > What if you're parked at home, and there is an unexpected shortage of > spaces?
If you are "at home" in your garage or driveway, there is no parking meter charge. But if you are in front of your home in a public street with meters, then, yes, you pay the current market rate. It is not your property. > If you're surprised by an $800 charge for an unusually tight night, You need not be surprised if you check what the current hourly rate is. If you leave your car for long periods of time without checking the rate, yes, you could be surprised by the bill, but then you should know in advance that you are vulnerable to a variable charge. Metered parking is supposed to be short term. If you want to park for a long time, either park in your driveway or go to a parking lot or parking structure where they have fixed rates. Your example is extremely unlikely, since at night there is usually plenty of parking. > (A) A system in which the driver gets a short-duration, (say 24h or 10h, > it's the driver's choice) lease for the spot. The price for available > spaces > fluctuates, but once you park (i.e. sign the lease), the terms of the lease > become fixed. That would be fine for a parking structure. But street parking requires availability, which is best met with a dynamic fee that eliminates congestion. Street parking is meant for short periods of time. High rates imply that is what folks are willing to pay. If you are not willing, don't park there. Continuously high rates become a signal to provide more parking. Fred Foldvary ===== [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - Coverage of the 2002 Olympic Games http://sports.yahoo.com
