Valet Service for your Bicycle!

Image being able to get your bicycle valet parked when you arrive to work!  Well that's what happen May 10th as Oakland celebrated Bike to Work Day!  Read the full story here: http://blog.sfgate.com/inoakland/2012/05/10/oakland-celebrates-bike-to-work-day/

Parklets for "Parking" People

Check out what's in store for street parking in San Francisco this summer!

Full article here: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20225128/parking-spot-mini-park-oakland

Your car is NOT your yard ornament!

An article put out by Mansfield News Journal talks about the city of Shreveport, LA now enforcing cars parked on private yards.  Not only is this a sore eye for your community, it can't be good for your grass!

The city is implementing a new law effective June 1, 2012.  First time offenders will be hit with a $100 fine while repeat offenders will be slammed with a $300-$525 fine!

Read more about it here: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/usatoday/article/38720415?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|p

Parking expenses tax deductable?

Not all parking expenses can be written-off, read the full article by "Tax Girl" here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2012/02/25/ask-the-taxgirl-parking-expenses-for-business/

$400-500 for ONE day of parking!?

Yup, that's what some people today are expecting to pay for Super Bowl parking.  Pretty insane!

Read the full article and watch the video here!

Oakland, CA is one of the top 45 places to go in 2012!

With a booming nightlife and diverse restaurants, Oakland, CA is one of the top places to visit in 2012, in fact it's listed right between London and Tokyo!  The reopening of the Fox Theater has helped increase the entertainment offering in the Bay Area. Since then, it has been a huge venue for great musicians, comedy acts and more.  On top of that Oakland's food scene is growing due to world-class chefs such as James Syhabout, the chef who earned Oakland its first Michelin star.

Read more about what you can find in Oakland, CA and the other 44 places to visit in 2012 here: http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/travel/45-places-to-go-in-2012.html

A man's car steal's itself!

In Australia, a car that was not properly placed in gear rolled through a parking facility and perfectly into a covered space stayed missing for 17 days.  It was finally recovered with some slight damage!

Quite a unusual and funny story... read the full article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16443089

The Evil Parking Maid

Here is a recent story about a man who was involved in stealing revenue from parking meters.  In 2009, he has pleaded guilty to stealing an excess of 1.1 million dollars from meters!  A coin here and there sure adds up...

Read the full story here: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/20/4135490/former-hoboken-parking-head-pleads.html

San Francisco will send text alerts to parkers

Ever pay a huge parking ticket only because you simply lost track of time?  Well the City of San Francisco's parking division will now send parkers a text alert letting them know their time is about to expire!  Nice little feature eh? 

However, this friendly little reminder will cost you... A 45-cent "convenience" fee will be charged for each pay-by-phone transaction. The service is voluntary.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/28/BA4S1M5AKA.DTL#ixzz1fJywcC8M

Man pays off a 57 year old parking ticket!

Read the funny article here: http://www.katu.com/news/weird/133368343.html!

Shreveort's Parking Expansion

By making parking more accessible and available, it lowers the chances of accidents at busy areas.  Not only that, it also:

• Lowers air pollution (less cars circling around in search of parking)
• Decreases traffic and congestion on the street and inside the parking lot
• Makes the street safer for pedestrians (more parked cars, less moving cars)
• Saves time for people
• Decreases the risk of possible road rage
• If paid parking, revenue for the city for improved roads and facility maintenance
• Stimulates the economy and businesses (if it is known that parking is easily accessible, consumers may be more willing to visit shopping centers more often)

Shreveport, LA kept all of these points in mind while expanding the parking lot.  Read all about it here: http://www.ksla.com/story/15956316/parking-lot-expansion-adds-to-holiday-economy

Parking in the Digital Age

As mobile technology becomes more commonly used for everyday purposes, the parking industry swiftly adapts to the needs of the consumer making parking payment much easier.  Quick Pass, QP for short is considered the industry's first mover when it comes to mobile parking technology. 

A parking app designed for Android and iPhones (others a long the way) makes paying for parking a breeze!  Check out the article here!

Fight or Flight!

We always suggest paying for your parking ticket if you received a legitimate one... but no one deserves to pay for a violation they did not commit!

A Bay Area woman receives a parking ticket from NY...  A place she had not visit nor driven at in over 10 years! 

When her instincts kicks in, she decides to FIGHT the unjust ticket!  Check out the video below.

In Memory of Donnell Larkin

Donnell started working at Douglas Parking when he was 16 years old and he was Douglas Parking’s longest tenured employee.  He was loved and adored by everyone.  His genuine smile, quick wit and contagious laugh will be missed by the thousands of people that worked for him and with him.  He was a loving father, husband, friend and manager. 

He will be missed.  Rest in Peace, Donnell Larkin.   

Downtown Las Vegas Parking Could Get Easier!

Don't prefer valet?  32,000 public and private parking spaces in downtown Las Vegas is being worked on now!  Read more about it here.

Portland's Parking Manager Ellis McCoy quits in lieu of parking scandal

Read the full article from Oregonlive.com here.

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan hears about parking woes

 

Read the full article from SF Gate here.

Find Parking Easier in the big city!

Here is an article from back in 2008 that describes a wireless sensor that can detect the presence of a parked car.  The idea is that there are signs around the city that will notify drivers of open street parking to make the search for parking easier.  This is a great idea and definitely will reduce time, traffic and air pollution as it will reduce the number of cars circling the streets to find parking.  This article was published back in 2008, no update regarding this technology as of late.  We wonder what happened?

Read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/12/business/12newpark.html?adxnnl=1&ref=parking&adxnnlx=1313359108-26hxL8RW1q3VMKBqTcBLWA

Airpark Airport Parking - A Douglas Parking Subsidiary

Recently produced video for off-airport parking facility!

Visit the Airpark website for parking coupons!

How not to park cars!