'Do You Validate?': The Exasperation of Parking

You can’t go anywhere in Los Angeles without considering parking.

Do you validate? Do you take cards? Is this curb red? Is there a street cleaning today? Can you set an alarm so I don’t forget to move my car? Can I get quarters? How do I get out of this garage?

To add insult to injury, Los Angeles City Hall increased parking tickets by $5 this month, which adds up to a nearly $100 fine for parking along a red curb.

And despite Governor Jerry Brown’s mercy in signing a law July 10 that prohibits being ticketed for parking at a broken meter, there is a chance that Los Angeles can choose to opt out of enforcing it. And the broken meters will remain deserted expanses of broken parking dreams, a mirage of good parking karma.

With over 40,000 people commuting in and out of Century City every day, parking is limited and precious, not to mention it is carrying a hefty price tag.

In some cities, parking lots cover more than one-third of the metropolitan footprint. Talk about “paving paradise to put up a parking lot!”

Why not give your employers and yourself a break and opt out of that parking spot? Talk to employers and buildings about instead covering the (much lower) cost of your bus/train/light rail ticket or your vanpool and save them the trouble of paying for employee parking while simplifying your commute. Some Century City employers already have a parking cash out ordinance in place, which will allow you to benefit from turning down a monthly parking spot in return for cash or a bonus towards public transportation.

The great thing about carpooling is that you have an extra person to talk to, ride with and even help you remember where you parked! Vanpooling takes all the stress out of the entire equation by helping you avoid the parking headache altogether. And the public transportation options? That’ll help you stretch your legs and your dollar while you walk right past those crowded garages and lots and into work on time.

And hey, maybe if enough of us make this change, we could enter work with a smile, de-stress, be more efficient when we get to the office, and simplify our lives.

Just an idea.