City explains downtown Beaufort’s new parking system
New parking markers give historic downtown Beaufort the appearance of a military base. Markers are beneath parked cars, creating danger when driver must stand in street to discern parking number to pay at new parking kiosks. Parking meters will be removed.
City explains new downtown parking
Paving the way for a new kiosk-based parking system in downtown Beaufort, Bay Street parking spaces are being numbered for easy identification in the new system, according to a press release from the City of Beaufort.
Once the new parking payment kiosks are in place and tested, most of the existing coin-operated parking meters in downtown Beaufort will be removed to reduce streetscape clutter, the press release claims.
New payment kiosks will open in June. Patrons will park, make note of their parking space number, then enter that number into any of the electronic payment panels located downtown. Payment can be made with cash, debit or credit cards. Should more parking time be needed while you shop or dine downtown, you can add it remotely via cell phone.
The 12-inch parking space numbers are in black on a standard traffic-marking white paint rectangle. The white background makes for easier viewing, especially at dusk and evening, said Scott Dadson, Beaufort city manager.
Smaller numbers would pose a safety hazard because parking customers might have to bend over or lean down in the roadway to identify their parking space, Dadson noted. There are 476 parking spaces in the core downtown district; only 132 of them will continue to use coin-operated meters.
“Lanier’s opinion is for the numbering to be large enough and bold enough so all parking patrons, regardless of age, can easily recognize their individual parking space without confusion,” said Rick Graham, chief operations officer for Lanier Parking, the private firm that has taken over management and enforcement of the City’s parking in Beaufort.
Lanier manages over 400 parking facilities worldwide. Graham said he believes the larger the painted number, the greater chance you will remember your specific spot.
“In all current, and future, ‘park by space’ lots company-wide, we will always recommend large numbering for visibility to aid the customer. Painting numbers on the curbs leads to excessive confusion, which results in an increase of citations due to a lack of recognition of the numbering,” he said.
“Last, and most important,” he said, “the large numbers minimize risk of endangering patrons who are exiting vehicles. Essentially, the quicker you read and identify your space, the quicker you are out of harm’s way with traffic.”
“We considered a number of alternatives, but this method of identifying parking spaces provides the safest solution,” Dadson said. “We have worked closely with Main Street Beaufort to find ways to help downtown merchants. Having adequate parking spaces for shops and restaurants is a big part of their success.”
Parking revenues, including fines, are split with 85 percent funding the Beaufort Redevelopment Commission and 15 percent funding Main Street Beaufort, USA, a downtown revitalization group that includes merchants. None of the parking revenue goes into the City’s general fund.
The comprehensive parking plan aims to maintain a steady turnover of spaces on Bay Street. It is designed to encourage consumers to patronize shops and restaurants while providing affordable and safe parking nearby to those who work in the area.
Related posts:
- City council passes new downtown parking plan on first reading, Fordham votes no
- New downtown parking plan on city’s fast track at council meeting Tuesday
- Modified parking plan for downtown Beaufort
- Mayor Keyserling explains downtown parking issues
- Comprehensive Beaufort parking plan proposed
Comments
7 Responses to “City explains downtown Beaufort’s new parking system”
One of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen is painting the parking space ID numbers on the street, directly underneath any car parked in that space.
I suppose glass bottom cars might help, otherwise people are going to need to crawl under their cars just to see the parking space number.
What kind of dolt thought of this?
The photo of the proposed lettering raises even more problems. Sunsets in three seasons are well before enforcement ends. I can just see me or anyone else trying to get down on all fours in the dark and/or rain with a flashlight to try to determine the number under the car–or stopping the car in the street to get out and see the numbers before parking.
If you’re driving, the lettering will be on the far side of your car, front to back in reverse order – and upside down.
If you’re a tourist new to visiting Beaufort, how will you know what those numbers mean even if you do see them? With no meters or signage at the spaces, it would be easy to conclude parking is free. Be ready for angry responses and travel blog posts about tourist parking ticket ripoffs when visiting downtown.
But there is a silver lining for some folks. Businesses, shops and restaurants outside the parking zone will appreciate downtown Beaufort’s program to push customers out to their locations.
The numbers will be unreadable from the driver seat, bad sight line. After parking you will have to kneel down and find the number.
Quote: “Patrons will park, make note of their parking space number”. Try finding the number under the Honda in the picture.
The new parking policy shows discrimination to people who don’t have cell phones or credit cards.
How many ways can you think of, to make a nice town seem friendly and keep the small town value system to help the merchants?
Children crossing the street could get hit if their mothers have to look for the parking system with their hands full.
Good luck, especially when the city didn’t ask for a tax payers vote on this slow decline of a small town and historic atmosphere.
I understand the meter hours are now 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. In all the times I’ve visited downtown (except for big events at Chambers Park), I’ve never seen the metered spaces even close to full after 6:30 p.m., so it’s just a money grab as far as I’m concerned.
If we want to shop then eat, I don’t think there’s a parking meter in any of the Hilton Head shopping areas. We can spend an afternoon shopping then have an evening dinner without ever encountering a meter or kiosk.
Most of the Bay street shops are closed by 6:00 p.m., so that leaves restaurants as the main attraction. If I just want to eat out, there are lots of places in Beaufort, Lady’s Island, Port Royal and surrounding areas where we get great food and service, don’t have to pay a dime in parking or deal with noting numbers and trotting off to “kiosks”.
Additionally, for security reasons I would never use credit or debit cards on kiosks. I have no idea how secure those terminals will be or how well they’re monitored for skimmers or other alterations or who has access to the credit card information. I certainly do not intend to use a cell phone to “renew” time.
We shall see, however, if we’re the only ones who won’t consider other options to shop and dine.
South Carolina Disabled Vets and Purple Heart recipients are exempt from paying parking fees.
How does the new Beaufort parking arrangement plan to handle this?
The BIG BLOCKS are, to say the least, ugly and tacky!
The idea is that I should just pull in and park and then what? I have to lean out and look under my car to find the number and hope for the best.
Why could these numbers not be placed on the top ridge of the curb? There is nothing historic about this look!