Scooter Parking Expansions and Permits for 2009
Last summer, the City of Columbus rolled out a new scooter parking initiative that gave two-wheel vehicle operators (scooter riders and motorcyclists alike) several designated parking locations in and around Downtown. Currently there are 23 locations that can hold a total of 267 vehicles and the city is planning to add more in 2009.
Also, as announced last year, a payment system is soon going to be in effect. An annual parking permit sticker will cost $50 per vehicle and well help to offset the cost of the parking signage and maintenance. Permits can be purchased starting March 16th at the City’s Parking Violations Bureau located at 400 W. Whittier Street.
Press Release:
City Expanding Parking for Motor Scooters, Motorcycles, Mopeds
Parking Permit System to be ImplementedWith spring just around the corner, the City of Columbus is revving up its efforts to provide more on-street parking for motor scooters, motorcycles and mopeds.
Last year, the City opened parking at 23 locations – Downtown, Brewery District, Short North – that can accommodate 267 two-wheeled motorized vehicles. Most of the spaces and corrals are in previously unused right of way.
“Downtown Columbus is becoming more urban every day, and the addition of parking for motor scooters, motorcycles and mopeds is one more way we are investing to embrace alternative forms of transportation,” Public Service Director Mark Kelsey said.
In the coming months, City teams will be looking for additional unused spaces that could be transformed – through signage and striping – into parking corrals.
The City did not charge last year for scooter parking at non-metered locations, but that is about to change. The City will require an annual permit to park at these special locations. The cost of an annual permit is $50 per vehicle.
“The annual permit fee will offset our costs for signage, pavement markings and maintenance,” said Randy Bowman, administrator of the new Division of Mobility Options.
Beginning March 16, permits can be purchased at the City’s Parking Violations Bureau, 400 W. Whittier Street. Bureau offices are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For a map of existing parking corrals, please go to the City of Columbus website – www.Columbus.gov – and click on Department of Public Service.
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Related Tags: downtown • motorcycles • parking • scooter parking • Scooters • Transit • transportation
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 am
I’ve had some interesting conversations about this via email today. How are our scooter enthusiasts feeling on this?
Personally, I don’t think $50/yr is that bad when some downtown lots and garages charge over $50/mo to park. And with the city budget being tight, I think two-wheelers should pay their parking dues such as cars do.
But one concern I heard raised was what happens after hours? Most meters downtown are off and unenforced after 6pm. Are non-stickered scooters going to be safe to park after 6pm? I assume so since the meter maids go home, but it would be nice to know more officially if you’re going to have to sweat those tickets at night.
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
I wasn’t under the impression that scooter riders have to park in the 2-wheel locations. As long as scooter riders abide by normal meter rules, I don’t think they need a permit to park elsewhere during metered hours or after. I think the permit is for the 2-wheel locations only.
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:50 am
Just heard back from Mary Webster (Assistant Director of Public Service):
Walker, Each location will have a sign identifying the hours – generally 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Permits will not be required for parking outside the posted hours.
Good to know! :D
And yes, whopper jr, you are correct. Two-wheelers are still allowed to park at regular meter spaces as well.
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 am
Would it be too much to ask that the 2-wheel sticker permits are somewhat aesthetically pleasing? Or will we be getting the standard City of Columbus Parking permit sticker?
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
Is there room to just put them on your license plate like cars do every year? Then it wouldn’t have to gunk up your scooter.
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
I’ll just put it on top of my now unused OSU permit that I cannot figure out how to remove.
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
So if I buy a city parking pass for my bike do I still need to pay the city’s parking meters if I use normal parking?
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
free was nice, but i think $50 is reasonable for dedicated parking. although as Roland asks, it would be even more worth it if it covered the ride at all metered spaces since corrals aren’t evenly spread throughout the city.
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
It’s a nice idea, but doesn’t it limit the city’s potential income from the meters if a scooter just parks it for half a day at a meter?
Of course, maybe it helps motivate people to consider another way to get around. :)
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I understand and appreciate the urgency to generate revenue. That said, I don’t think the city revenue benefit is proportionate with the friction created from the $50 fee. It might hurt adoption of scooters and motorcycles. Especially since adoption of two-wheeled transportation is just getting going.
People have a certain expectation when they pay for something and I don’t see that expectation being met. Mark my words. Watch the bitch fest unravel when people pay the fees and the dedicated parking is full. It’s gonna happen. Having to go to Whittier is a pain the ass, which is another source of friction. The city isn’t ready.
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
The big problem is that all scooter parking is clustered around Downtown. Virtually every other neighborhood has been left out and it seems that from the article they’re talking about adding more spaces Downtown, which I can understand if the demand is there. Also worth remembering is this, “Most of the spaces and corrals are in previously unused right of way.”, so kudos for putting un-utilized road to use.
Here is my expert advice: expand to other smaller business corridors further from Downtown. “Olde Towne Quarter” on Parsons, 3rd in Harrison West, King east of Neil (aka, Downtown Peach District), Summit south of Hudson, not mention High all the way up into Clintonville. Don’t forget businesses in lower-income neighborhoods like Broad in Franklinton, Parsons south of I-70 and Long in King-Lincoln.
I can’t speak from experience for scooter-friendly roads, but I know for some scooters they are limited to 30 MPH, so the city should ackowledge that if they want more people riding scooters on business-lined streets which are currently 35 MPH. Going to Whittier annually isn’t that bad, although it is out of the way.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I ride my scooter so infrequently due to Ohio weather and my own late hours that the $50 is steep for me. Too bad we couldn’t have tiny meters instead, i would be happy to use those. Also, last year, the scooter parking near Tip Top was often full. I’d be upset if I paid my $50 and still had to find a meter to pay too.
I always wonder why we haven’t raised valet parking fees. The valets next to two of my restaurants regulary take up to 6-8 spots even though they are only allowed 2-4 spaces. Seems like there’s a lot of valet spots that are far more valuable revenue-wise than a few small scooter parking areas.
Valeted cars or more scooters? I’d love to see more scooters, personally!
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Sounds like this is geared mostly towards office commuters. Even if you only commute to downtown by scooter 6 months a year, this seems like a good deal ($8.33 per month).
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:35 pm
This is the time when the scooter parking is filled, during the day. Night time is no problem.
I’ve got no problem paying to park my scooter, I’m only questioning how to go about doing it…$50 once or pay as I go in quarters like cars? Pay as you go seems more accessible to more people. And yes, I also hate going to Whittier office. Ever.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Liz, I totally agree. There isn’t enough scooter parking to meet demand. People who pay the fee will be ticked when they can’t park there.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Last year I’d ride my scooter in during the lunch hour to check on things at Tip Top, parking was always full at that location if the weather was even slightly nice outside. I took it as a good sign for scooters and motorcycles and found another place to park. I am aware of 4-5 scooter/motorcycle riders that work at Tip Top alone (not including all three owners)…imagine how many more there are in all those big buidings…we are tiny! I would much prefer to pay as I go….anyone know about how many riders there are downtown?
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:52 pm
ps-I LOVE our scooter parking! SO grateful we have it at all! Thank you, City! I want to love and nurture scooter parking and see it grow up and play with the big car spaces and valet spots so we can expand it in other places.
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I don’t understand what is going to stop two-wheeled riders from just using meters if they do want to “pay as you go”? It’s still perfectly legal to park in metered spaces just as a car would.
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Yep, good point. It just feels inefficient to me. I love the scooter parking and I want it to work. I get daily complaints from our staff and customers about parking issue and tissues, there’s no one good solution.
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
As downtown grows denser, parking is only going to continue to get harder too. ;) Which in turn should make the development of passenger rail transit an easier sell.
But in the short term, I think the addition of more 2-wheeler lots should help to ease some of the congestion for the time being. The city was UBER-responsive with the the bike rack installations last year. I’m willing to bet they’re looking to do the same with scooter parking.
Mr. Urban Ventures Coordinator himself will probably be out there busting up concrete and planting scooter parking signs if you tell him where you want them. ;)
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Hey now Walker, they took away my hard hat and hammer, apparently I’m a little toooo progressive. But I will find them again, oh yes, just you wait. Spring is a-comin’. More spots will be ID’ed in coming months, and we are totally open to suggestions. They will continue to focus on urban core and areas around colleges and universities because that is where the demand for parking is greatest. I’m hoping to see the spaces to nearly double in the coming year.
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
thanks, urban hero, for updates. give us an inch of scooter parking and bicycle racks and we always want the block….
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:08 am
God knows OSU needs a lot of scooter parking, especially since the leadership isn’t doing anything to provide it or encourage scooters or motorcycles as transportation options.
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:08 am
I don’t think OSU is doing too poorly on transportation, considering less than half the 50,000′ish students have cars on campus.
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:39 am
Well OSU Motorcycle parking passes are $15. Here is the map of available spaces:
http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/Maps/MotorcycleMap.pdf
Maybe more advertising to make students aware, but 15 bucks to park all year is pretty good encouragement.