Downtown neighborhoods like Loring Park have the same parking problems that you describe for Southeast. If the city were to designate the neighborhoods around the LRT stations as permit/critical parking zones it would help the residents but poke the commuters in the eye with a pool cue.
I have lived in this neighborhood for about 4 years, and conclude that the city of Minneapolis doesn't care much about resident parking or parking in population dense areas. About 10 parking spaces were removed for 2 bus stops where the bus only runs infrequently. The permit only is enforced (i use parking enforcement in a very loose way) between 9 am to 4 pm, while permit parking in tony Kenwood lasts till 8 pm. The extra hours would make a big difference, but I don't think that people from the city care much about the neighborhood residents who have to fight for scarce parking. Instead of thinking strategically about critical parking problems and periodically evaluating the situation by asking the residents, once the policies are implemented they are then forgotten. Since the city of Minneapolis is in the parking business, I guess the staff only sees parking issues with the bias of business owner. Then there is the cultural issue of parking behavior. Most people park as if they were parking on a farm. No regard of the population density and the demand for parking space of a crowded city neighborhood. I'm afraid that the lack of regard for parking in the planning for the LRT station sites will now pit the neighborhood residents against the commuters. Whatever "solution" that is arrived at will be inadequate to both groups. The residents will see the commuter's demands as illegitimate and the commuters will resent the "selfish" residents who will be seen as territorial and parochial. But Minneapolis is such a world-class city with all the amenities except a few like an adequate parking policy. What a no-win situation. David Wilson Loring Park On Mon, 2 Aug 2004, Laura Waterman Wittstock wrote: > > On Monday, August 2, 2004, at 02:55 PM, Jason C Stone wrote: > > > It looks like a pretty glum situation right now, but the city still > > has an opportunity to make it > > right. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that people would like > > the capability to park near > > transit stations. > > > > > --- Gina Palandri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >> However that's not related to my original issue, being; > >> Minneapolis homeowners are losing their neighborhoods and streets to > >> LRT > >> riders. I am a person who even has a garage, and still see why this > >> was > >> a horrible failure on the part of Metro Transit. > >> > > Southeast Como residents have known for years that their city streets > are parking lots for UM students who can't buy space or can't afford to > park in the UM ramps. It's a pain, to be sure. But if the U can't build > its way out of the need for more parking space, how could the transit > authority? > > The city streets are public and thus students or commuters are able to > park there. I'm frequently irritated when I have to park away from my > house, but I don't mistake the street for my personal property. > > There must be some middle ground here. > > Best, > > > Laura > Southeast and jonesing for speed bumps on my block > > > Laura Waterman Wittstock > MIGIZI Communications, Inc. > 3123 East Lake Street > Minneapolis, MN 55406 > 612.721.6631 ext 219 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.migizi.org > http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/ > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL > PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
