The cost of 2-hour 'free' parking

Government occasionally thinks of a brilliant idea, talks it up, and then enacts legislation, sending it on its way like a proud parent watching a child riding his bike for the first time. Unlike that parent, however, government too often turns its back and walks off, never bothering to check whether or not the kid is doing well.

The problem can be worse in Idaho, where it seems the unofficial state motto is, “We’ve always done it this way.” Rarely does anyone, elected official or staff, muster the courage to take a second, serious look and ask, “Is this policy doing what was intended?”

At a recent City Council meeting, the discussion topic was downtown parking fees. Council expressed the desire for consistency among the rates. Yet thwarting those efforts is the two-hour free parking policy for the McEuen lot, a policy that also extends to the downtown core.

This two-hour free policy is an ingrained example of the unofficial state motto. During the meeting, I asked whether or not anyone has looked at the policy to see whether it has met with desired results. The short answer: No.

The policy was originally set in place to encourage downtown parking and shopping. I would offer that it’s had the opposite effect.

For example, I believe the two-hour free policy is directly responsible for employees parking in customers’ spaces. It generates frustration, as I have experienced, when you enjoy eating a long lunch or shopping downtown only to find that you’ve been ticketed for what you otherwise thought was free. And the necessity of getting a two-hour “free” pass from the maddening parking machines at McEuen annoys everyone.

Changing the policy to require first-minute payment would eliminate the issue with employees parking in customer spots and moving their cars every two hours. It would clarify the puzzle of how much to pay and when. It would put the city in line with other cities that charge for downtown parking. Finally, it would bring consistency for payment at all downtown city parking lots.

Others may have different opinions, and discussion on this topic is welcome and beneficial for everyone. What’s not beneficial, however, is to maintain the two-hour free parking policy under the assumption that everything is okeydokey when it’s not.

To make government work, both the people and officials must keep an eye on the child riding his bike, to ensure that he’s going where we want him to go.

•••

Dan Gookin is an author and a member of the Coeur d’Alene City Council.