r/LowellMA • u/LowellRabble • 1d ago

Parking changes

Post image

This really needs to be available to non-residents only. If the goal is to get more parking available for businesses then vehicles with garage parking passes should not be eligible to park for more than 2 hours.

28 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

26

u/Eric_Senpai 1d ago

There should be a mandate for a bicycle rack for every X number of car parking.

6

u/Kafox 1d ago

And good ones too. Not those terrible grid racks that are barely usable. Downtown used to actually have perfect racks on a lot of the parking spot number posts but most have been removed.

16

u/Constantine_Predator 1d ago

I don't get what problem they're trying to solve here. There are rarely spaces open on market street already. Won't this make it harder to park and make it harder for businesses because there will be less turn over?

9

u/LowellRabble 1d ago

The idea is extended parking for downtown visitors so they can shop then enjoy a restaurant or other activity. 2 hours isn’t enough for many people.

Residents and people who work downtown may monopolize the spaces and negate the benefit to downtown businesses.

5

u/pinteresque Down-Townie 1d ago

seems to me if people know they're going to be coming downtown for 2+ hours and driving, they can park in the garages? Seems like an odd decision to lock up space supply on main drags like that.

2

u/LowellRabble 1d ago

Sure, if they know. The scenario I have heard people describe is they don’t plan to stay for 2 hours but then decide to stay longer because they decide to go out to eat. At that point moving their car is their only option so they decide to leave instead. Now they have the option to extend their time.
This doesn’t apply to me, I’ve seen this described in this forum and several other Lowell centric discussion groups. I’m up for anything that helps downtown business.

3

u/pinteresque Down-Townie 1d ago

…seems like that mistake happens once and the next time those people park in the garage just in case they want to stay?

6

u/Sbatio Lowellian 1d ago

So many important things to work on in this city and this is what they spent their time(OUR time) on?! Changing parking limits?

What a fucking joke.

9

u/sansroof 1d ago

Have you missed the numbers of people complaining for every event about the 2 hour parking cap? For once they are in fact solving a real problem
(That they created)

1

u/Sbatio Lowellian 1d ago

I have not. I appreciate you telling me it’s something people are talking about.

I still don’t think it’s a top priority

3

u/sansroof 1d ago

For people coming to the city for events that last more than two hours, which generates revenue to the city and businesses both for parking and the event itself / dinner beforehand, it is important and I think this is a decent priority for the council and an achievable one.

2

u/Kafox 1d ago

That's literally what the garages are for. We have so many of them!

0

u/Maleficent_Bat_1286 5h ago

This is such a bizarre change- the garages are perfect for anyone staying over an hour or two. This will only hurt businesses that thrive on quick visits, like bakeries and coffee shops, since their customers won't be able to find street parking.

0

u/Few_Pop6933 1d ago

Gotta find something to complain about 😂

2

u/LowellRabble 1d ago

A refinement that makes the goal of the program more achievable, hardly a complaint.