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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.
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.
thanks, urban hero, for updates. give us an inch of scooter parking and bicycle racks and we always want the block….
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.
I don’t think OSU is doing too poorly on transportation, considering less than half the 50,000′ish students have cars on campus.
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.
It struck me that the real money maker in all this is ticketing scooters and motorcycles who don’t have the sticker or who aren’t properly displaying their sticker.
When I left work yesterday, the city, I assume, had left a flyer on the seat of my motorcycle explaining the procedure to receive a parking permit. This permit is effective April 1, little notice, but sufficient enough. My real concerns with this are the cost of the permit ($50 per year) and that it’s a sticker.
Since there are a few motorcycles that use the new corral-style parking downtown, I didn’t expect the cost to be so high…especially since we live in Ohio, where year-round riding is unheard of.
I am also very intrigued by the sticker concept. I own a vintage bike that I use as my daily rider, and have no intention of putting a sticker on it! I don’t have an alternative idea, not that it would matter, but this is just silly.
Thoughts?
Alternatives:
- Park at a regular meter spot and feed the meter
- Pay for a monthly parking pass in a parking lot/garage downtown
$50 per year doesn’t really sound that expensive to me for downtown parking. Even if you don’t utilize it every day.
Is the sticker required to be displayed in any specific location on the bike? I guess I had assumed it was something that could be affixed to your license plate.
2-wheeler license plates are rather small and it appears that the sticker is going to be about 1.5″ x 3″ or so.
I can totally understand not wanting to put a sticker on the bike. it isn’t so much putting it on, but taking it off usually can take off some paint with it. usually stickers are attached to one of the the front fork legs on motorcycles. the liscence plates are very tiny on a cycle and I’m not sure about putting a City sticker on a State plate. $50 is relatively cheap. I’ll still park at City center when downtown, i do want a sticker for the SN spots on High St.
although, I must say that I normally ride my bike because parking is very easy to find when riding a motorcycle anyways, even without the 2 wheeled spots, so I might just forgo the $50 pass and just park like I normally would. the real benefit for the $50 pass is for those that use it for downtown parking. $50 year is cheap, I pay close to $100 month now to park downtown, equal to $1200/year.
From Brochure: http://pubserv.ci.columbus.oh.us/transportation/Two-wheeled_info.htm
Permits must be displayed on the front fork, or they
may be laminated and hung from the handle bars.
The permit must be visible for City enforcement
officers.
The Mayor just wants to have his name on my cool motorcycle… or should I say, Coleman-cycle!
In all seriousness, I greatly appreciate the addition of two-wheeled parking, bicycle included, throughout Columbus. I want them to stay so I will be purchasing a permit.
I do have mixed feelings though. Primarily if I am going to pay a yearly fee to park my bike in city spaces, I want it to count when I use a metered space as well.
Also, who is going to pay for the bicycle parking corrals? Is covering cost of operation really the intent with the parking permits? Shouldn’t these have been covered in our taxes? When will I need a permit to park my ass on a city bench?
Press Release:
City Expanding Parking for Motor Scooters, Motorcycles and Mopeds Parking Permit System to be Implemented
With 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 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’s website — http://www.columbus.gov — and click on Department of Public Service.
Press Release:
Permit Parking Takes Effect Monday, April 6, For Motor Scooters, Motorcycles and Mopeds Parked in Specially Designated Locations
Beginning Monday, permits will be required at the 23 non-metered on-street parking locations created last year for motor scooters, motorcycles and mopeds.
The non-metered spaces and corrals are located in previously unused right of way in three areas – Downtown, Short North, Brewery District. They can accommodate up to 267 two-wheeled motorized vehicles.
Annual permits can be purchased for $50 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.
“The annual permit fee will offset our costs for signage, pavement markings and maintenance,†said Randy Bowman, administrator of the Division of Mobility Options.
In the coming months, City staff will be looking for additional unused spaces that could be transformed – through signage and striping – into parking corrals.
For a map of existing parking corrals, please go to the City’s website — http://www.columbus.gov — and click on Department of Public Service.