I never realized when I traded in my trusty old Honda Accord for the Official Vehicle of Champaign-Urbana how much I would miss this handy little change drawer on the left side of the dash. Although it has 18 cup holders (and yes we counted each one), the OVCU doesn’t have a good place to put change. I am constantly reminded of this development every time I park in downtown Champaign post-meter price hike to 75 cents per hour.
I did, however, get a pleasant surprise the other day when I went to fill my meter. I put two quarters in — not really paying much attention — until I saw that I had two hours on the clock. Two whole hours for two quarters, what a bargain.
I have to go back to this location this afternoon, so I’ll let you know if my meter friend is still in violation of the increase.
20 responses so far ↓
Leeanthro // February 20, 2008 at 2:06 pm
You would think that when an area is trying to increase traffic (not motor-vehicle traffic, but people spending their money) that they wouldn’t price gouge on parking.
My American car doesn’t have a change thingy. Annoying!
The cash key can be used in Champaign, Urbana, and on campus. But I don’t have one.
http://www.ci.champaign.il.us/public_works/parking_regulations.php#cashkey
We like the OVCU, but unfortunately, although made in America (by a Japanese company), they aren’t union built. Drat! But they are oh so lovely! I like the integrated sunshade. But I’m sure my daughter could reach over and destroy it!
Mrs. Chicken // February 20, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I feel the same way about my van. I miss that change cup. Instead, one of our cupholders is always filled with wet pennies.
AL // February 21, 2008 at 9:11 am
Be careful when parking downtown! I went to lunch with a friend we were only 15 minutes over and we both got tickets. Bummer.
Katherine // February 21, 2008 at 11:23 am
Oh, to have a mini van. The room. The not bending over to put a baby in a car seat. It’s the dream!
Sadly, I cannot afford the gas for one.
Rayne of Terror // February 21, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I was furious when I came all the way over to Champaign’s downtown last week and found the price hike plus the sign seemed to require you to move your car every 2 hours. Do they want to prevent customers from staying more than 2 hours? Because that’s exactly what happened. I set my phone alarm for 2 hours and then skedaddled instead of finding another space. Downtown Bloomington has an hour and a half timelimit but no meters and less parking as far as I can tell. Either make me pay for the spot or make me move my car every two hours, but not both. I found a coffeeshop on the outskirts of town where I could stay as long as I wanted. Plus I bought a big bag of beans there, not just $1.25 cup of coffee and then sit for 2 hours.
MissNadine // February 23, 2008 at 3:48 pm
The meter price change isn’t everywhere, so if you’re willing to walk two blocks you can still get an hour for a quarter. No biggie, there are still plenty of spaces.
Turnover matters to businesses too, Leeanthro– would you rather one person sit in your coffee shop with $4 of treats for four hours, or four come through each paying that amount?
What I find asinine about the meter increases is that it’s to pay for a parking deck at the new M2. Why do we need a deck for people in a private development to park in, exactly?
Rayne of Terror // February 23, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I drove all around the downtown area (and perimeter) and saw those blue signs on every meter.
lbotp // February 23, 2008 at 7:27 pm
There is a map on the City of Champaign website: http://ci.champaign.il.us/public_works/pdfs/Downtown-Parking-Rate-Map.pdf I didn’t know this but the parking lot next to Illinois Terminal is still .25 cents per hour for now.
Leeanthro // February 23, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Nadine, when I don’t have to worry about spending that much per hour or having to move my car, I am more likely to go to several places downtown, rather than just pop into one.
On a recent Saturday, I hit several stores up and down Walnut Street and Main Street because I didn’t have to feed the meter. Spending most places I went.
On a weekday, I would have just ran the one errand and left.
The parking increase only helps the city, not the businesses downtown.
That’s just my opinion.
MissNadine // February 24, 2008 at 10:20 am
I didn’t say the rate doesn’t matter, just that there are other factors that also matter– Leeanthro’s trip is good for businesses, but it’s also good for some to come and go quickly leaving room for others. I don’t recall there being a unified strong opposition among the downtown businesses, maybe b/c different business models?
Anyway–thanks for posting the map link–as y’all can see, it is still convenient to park at 50 or 25 cents an hour with a very short 2 block walk if you are planning on spending the entire afternoon.
In my Former College Town parking everywhere was $1 an hour until 9 pm, AND they chalk marked tires so they could ticket you if you re-fed the meter, so I still find Champaign delightfully economical. And I’d still rather spend my whole change dish to hang out at Pekara or Kopi over Panera or Starbucks. Ohhh Pekara lady, your fine pastry making keeps me in the gym working doubletime.
Rayne of Terror // February 29, 2008 at 1:53 pm
So is Nadine saying they don’t chalk mark the tires in CU? They do that in both Decatur and BN, so I assumed that was the deal in CU too since the meter said to move your car from the spot after two hours.
Leeanthro // March 3, 2008 at 6:49 am
I just saw a thing on Channel 5 (?), the local info channel. It said that they raised the rates in the very heart of downtown to discourage people from parking there and instead encourage people to park a few blocks away and walk.
Point is, if I’m running an errand at lunchtime or trying to have a lunch with friends during the week, I really don’t have time to drive around a few blocks away looking for a cheap spot and then walk.
All that the rate hike does is discourage me from spending my money downtown.
Any word on the cupcake place?
Rayne of Terror // March 3, 2008 at 9:43 am
LBOTP - CIL is off hiatus now
MissNadine // March 4, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Rayne, parking enforcement in CU is amazingly lax. They do not mark tires. I have parked numerous times dt since the change and left my meter way beyond the time without ticketing. YMMV though so I’d still bring quarters!
Leeanthro, I don’t think it’s accurate to say it’s to “discourage” parking. It is to leave space for shorter-term parking while people who want to park longer term move outward. A significant component of this change has to do with employees of DT businesses parking all day long on the core streets, while shoppers/diners can’t find spaces. When the employees park out of the core, we’ll have an easier time finding a space. (Plus, there are still several big and often mostly empty lots DT)
I’m not some kind of super bougie rich lady, but I can’t get exercised over $0.75 as an “expensive” parking space. I just dropped $35 to go to a three hour meeting in the Loop last week. That hurt. Three quarters to eat Radio Maria’s eggplant fries does not.
On the other hand, I am a Southern enough lady to respectfully point out that I have a title, it’s Miss. Thanks y’all!
Leeanthro // March 4, 2008 at 10:48 pm
MissNadine- On channel 5, which shows official city information, they specifically used the word “discourage.” I’m not making this up. And it said to park a few blocks away and park. It *is* accurate for me to use the word “discourage” when I got it from the channel that is used to disseminate info from government to its citizens.
All things are relative, $35 in Chicago is probably par for the course. 75 cents an hour in Champaign IS expensive.
If you want to keep beating this horse (and I don’t even know why I am responding to it, obviously you are the only person in a 50 mile radius that doesn’t mind parking fee increases), why don’t you link to your own blog instead of posting anonymously?
I didn’t say “Miss” because it is common practice to shorten and/or abbreviate when posting comments and replies. We don’t know who you are because you won’t link so don’t get offended if we don’t give you the title or respect that you seem to think you deserve. And I know we are south of Chicago, but we are not IN the South. People don’t go around saying “Miss.” And quite frankly, I’m a “Ms.” not a “Miss.”
And in my opinion, Radio Maria isn’t worth three quarters these days. Ever since they took the Pad Thai off the menu, there is nothing there that appeals to me. And we have had half a dozen parties there and the past few times the servers didn’t really seem to care about us. I used to recommend them, but no longer.
Case closed. Let’s move on to something worth a second thought.
Nothing like a LBOTP post to get people all riled up!
MissNadine // March 5, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Wonderings from someone who is an often reader of LBOTP who finally tried to join the conversation about my relatively new home…
….do I have to have my own blog to be part of the dialogue? My email is available and I will respond to it. If you’re not a crazy person, I will even tell you my IRL name.
….do I have to respond to a name that someone else gives me rather than the name I choose to use here? Everyone calls Mrs. Chicken, Mrs., not Chicken. I’m Miss Nadine, or Miss N. Especially if you’re nasty.
….do I have to agree with Leeanthro’s opinions to exist in C-U blog world? I’m not sure why Leeanthro is policing the blog comments, how disagreeing with her interpretation of a policy rationale is equated to an accusation of lying, or why she gets to say “case closed.” That… well, that sucked.
….LBOTP, your blog is a very nice addition to this community, and many people are nice here, but some are consistently negative, bashing other people, and acting like their opinions came down from a mountaintop on a tablet.
….I tried. I may try again, but it might be a minute. ….waiting for BelleNoelle to resume regular posting at Sulking
lbotp // March 5, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Alright, break it up kids
Miss Nadine, your email is only available to me. I don’t believe that you have to have a blog to post here, in fact I think that we local bloggers can be rather incestuous for lack of a better term and I appreciate newbies and oldies alike who are blogless.
I try not to police the comments as much as I can. I hope that this is a forum where people can respectfully disagree and discuss issues.
You are welcome here anytime. I hope you won’t stay away for long.
Leeanthro // March 5, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Miss Nadine,
Let’s let bygones be bygones. I’m not a negative person and you shouldn’t take things personally. It’s only a blog, it’s not real life.
I’m not policing the comments, but I like to check back because people who read LBOTP generally have interesting things to say, whether or not I agree with them. And there is usually a good conversation going on here.
The only reason why I addressed you specifically is because you said “Leeanthro, I don’t think it’s accurate to say it’s to “discourage” parking.”
My point is that I saw in writing that the city is trying to “discourage” people from parking there. That’s not an *opinion* on my part, it’s fact.
And I do, in fact, call Mrs. Chicken, “Chicken.” When I abbreviated your name, it was not intended as an insult. Why would I need to insult you?
Some people who don’t include their link to their own blog are often hiding. They want to say something snarky and not let anyone know who they are. I’m not saying you are snarky, but you’re secretive.
I hope to have a more positive exchange with you in the future. Over something else entirely.
Happy blogging! (I mean that sincerely and if I knew your blog address, I would have come by and said hello.)
MissNadine // March 6, 2008 at 11:29 am
A friend of mine scolded me for being a DramaNadine, after y’all posted olive branches. I agree, let’s be friendly! I like being positive in a forum for discussion.
So, in the spirit of Oprah (Every Lady’s Friend), I suggest a book club, and the first book could be “The High Cost of Free Parking” by Donald Shoup, so we could discuss having a greater understanding of the complex economic and fiscal trade-offs of pricing personal vehicle travel. He lays out very clearly that parking space search time decreases substantially when curb parking prices go up, and how much money we all save when parking is appropriately priced, given that we’re subsidizing free and cheap parking at oh, a hundred billion dollars a year. (I’m cheating at the book club, b/c you may guess that I’ve already read the book! So I’ll bring the cake) Or if you don’t have time, you could try out this blog post http://www.smilepolitely.com/culture/2007/12/lovely-rita.php which nicely summarizes some of the specific cost-benefit issues in Champaign, several of which I have mentioned in earlier posts (i.e. long-term parking by employees blocking other visitors, the surface vs. garage question, the role of turnover in business revenue, etc). Then we could talk about a local issue without relying only on our interpretations of something we saw on cable access tv, that being our sole source of information since we weren’t paying attention to the issue until we needed an extra quarter one day!
And…I think that, new friends, is the proverbial closing of the case.
And don’t worry, I didn’t think you were insulting me, Leeanthro, when you insist on calling me a name different from how I introduce myself. We have a phrase, spoken with sympathy, for that kind of thing– “God bless, her mama just didn’t teach her any better.” It doesn’t make me mad at all. And I will surely let y’all know the absolute moment I have a blog!
Rayne of Terror // March 6, 2008 at 3:38 pm
From hence forth I want to be called by my full bloggy name Rayne of Terror AKA Henny Penny and don’t you dare go shortening it, not even to ROTHP. Springfield blogs are the same way with all the same people commenting in a round robin. I think it’s the nature of the hyper-local blog. There are a few CU bloggers that make no claims on CU and have a wider geographical readership - but I wouldn’t out someone’s location for a cheap thrill. To each his niche.
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