Stuck in line purchasing swag for your holiday party while your meter minutes tick away? Here's some good news for upscale travelers and shoppers. San Francisco has joined the elite list of U.S. cities offering "PayByPhone" parking for iPhone users, with a trial launched in the popular and parking-challenged Castro District. Yesterday, newly elected Mayor Ed Lee unveiled San Francisco's newest wrinkle in on-demand living. It's part of a citywide trend toward electronic parking solutions that will make greenies and techies alike swoon with joy this holiday season. Your Android or iPhone will allow you to pay the meter up to the maximum without losing your spot in the checkout line.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) launched an iPhone parking finder app last spring that allows drivers to search real-time street spaces. It has been a big success, acccording to the SFMTA. The PayByPhone app promises to be just as popular, and will be deployed to all neighborhoods by next May according to SFMTA staffers.
Just lately, more parking solutions for holiday shoppers were launched online and on the streets. The SFMTA offers multiple online tips and tools for safe, convenient holiday shopping—transit and parking options—to those planning to visit downtown San Francisco for shopping and entertainment this holiday season. Drivers now have smart parking options aided by the SFMTA’s innovative SFpark program.
Customers can find locations, rates and parking space availability for SFpark garages on SFpark.org, iPhone and Andriod apps or by texting “sfpark” to 877877.
The SFpark program has installed over 200 new street signs that direct drivers to the 15 SFpark garages. The bright blue “P” signs are your ticket to holiday parking nirvana.
“Going straight to garages rather than circling or double-parking in search of a metered space will help reduce congestion,” said Tom Nolan, Chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors. “This makes it possible for Muni to run more efficiently and allows everyone to get to their destination quicker and easier.”
“If you must drive during the busy holiday season, avoid circling the block looking for an open space. Go directly to an SFpark garage, where parking spaces are usually available and hourly rates are often lower than at meters,” said Edward D. Reiskin, Director of Transportation. “SFpark garages are located in the heart of many of the City’s neighborhoods and in the downtown shopping districts.”
Benefits of the SFpark garages include:
- Many hourly rates have dropped due to demand-responsive pricing, often below on-street meter rates.
- Pay in 30-minute increments instead of one hour.
- SFpark garages may have space available, when on-street parking is taken.
- SFpark garages have one clear and easy-to-understand rate structure.
- No time limits.
The busiest days to shop at Union Square in December? Fridays and Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas, followed by Christmas Eve and December 26.
Least crowded days of the week to shop at Union Square between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Sundays and Mondays.
For holiday shopping tips, please visit sfmta.com. For more information on SFpark garages, please visit SFpark.org/garages.
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