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"In the performance parking zones in Columbia Heights, Capitol Hill, the ballpark area, and soon H Street, only residents (and their guests) can park on one side of each block. This has been a successful element of performance parking zones that coupled the restrictions with market-rate meters."

I live by the ballpark and I don't know if I would categorize it as "successful." Trying to get them to enforce parking restrictions is like pulling teeth. Explaining to illegal parkers that they are illegally parked only results in getting screamed at. When certain teams are in town, I know that I will not be able to find parking, despite the restrictions, anywhere close to my home because of all the cars with MD, VA, and PA plates that have illegally parked. This is exceptionally frustrating because there is not a lack of parking lots of these people to use--they're just being cheap and don't want to pay.

The same holds true for the local churches. Their congregants, as everyone throughout the city well knows, almost universally have zero respect for parking restrictions (or fire hydrants or drive ways or anything else). Calling and asking for parking enforcement on a Sunday morning will only get you laughed out.

It is all a very nice idea in theory, and I support restricting parking for residents and their guests in these high-demand zones. But if often fails in reality because DC lacks the will to engage in meaningful parking enforcement.

by Birdie on Mar 7, 2012 3:02 pm • link • report