Comments on: Crunch time at the parking ramp, plus yellow lights and a little math http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/11/09/crunch-time-at-the-parking-ramp-plus-yellow-lights-and-a-little-math/ Travel along with our transportation geek Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:43:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Laggard http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/11/09/crunch-time-at-the-parking-ramp-plus-yellow-lights-and-a-little-math/#comment-15688 Laggard Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:39:44 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/11/09/crunch-time-at-the-parking-ramp-plus-yellow-lights-and-a-little-math/#comment-15688 As morg said, yellow lights are not a factor. The first thing drivers ask themselves when confronted with a yellow appears to be "can I make it through the red before traffic begins moving the other way?" As morg said, yellow lights are not a factor. The first thing drivers ask themselves when confronted with a yellow appears to be “can I make it through the red before traffic begins moving the other way?”

]]> By: Morg http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/11/09/crunch-time-at-the-parking-ramp-plus-yellow-lights-and-a-little-math/#comment-15674 Morg Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:58:08 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/11/09/crunch-time-at-the-parking-ramp-plus-yellow-lights-and-a-little-math/#comment-15674 Prepaying requires the city to staff the ramps, cutting into profits? They aren't actually saying that with a straight face, are they? Event parking prices are usually anywhere from $15-30 per car. I'm sure the attendants aren't paid more than $12/hr. So, let's say the event lasts 4 hours and there are 2 attendants on duty for 6 hours. If my math is correct, $12 times 12 hours equals $144. At $15 per car--the low end for event parking--the city is in the black after the first 10 cars, at $150. To use having to pay attendants as a valid excuse to create such an inconvenience for people coming to spend money in the City is wrong on so many levels. As for yellow lights, they are a non-factor for the most part. The new rule of thumb is how long the light has been red before people actually stop. Many folks, especially those in left-turn lanes, now seem to think that if they sat through one red cycle they are grandfathered into the next green, regardless of whether the light is green when they get there or not. Prepaying requires the city to staff the ramps, cutting into profits? They aren’t actually saying that with a straight face, are they? Event parking prices are usually anywhere from $15-30 per car. I’m sure the attendants aren’t paid more than $12/hr. So, let’s say the event lasts 4 hours and there are 2 attendants on duty for 6 hours. If my math is correct, $12 times 12 hours equals $144. At $15 per car–the low end for event parking–the city is in the black after the first 10 cars, at $150.

To use having to pay attendants as a valid excuse to create such an inconvenience for people coming to spend money in the City is wrong on so many levels.

As for yellow lights, they
are a non-factor for the most part. The new rule of thumb is how long the light has been red before people actually stop. Many folks, especially those in left-turn lanes, now seem to think that if they sat through one red cycle they are grandfathered into the next green, regardless of whether the light is green when they get there or not.

]]> By: Amy H http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/11/09/crunch-time-at-the-parking-ramp-plus-yellow-lights-and-a-little-math/#comment-15673 Amy H Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:41:26 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/11/09/crunch-time-at-the-parking-ramp-plus-yellow-lights-and-a-little-math/#comment-15673 Isn't it more accurate to say, "peak HOURS." Rush "hour" seems to be expanding every year. Isn’t it more accurate to say, “peak HOURS.” Rush “hour” seems to be expanding every year.

]]> By: CindyLou http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/11/09/crunch-time-at-the-parking-ramp-plus-yellow-lights-and-a-little-math/#comment-15672 CindyLou Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:16:13 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/11/09/crunch-time-at-the-parking-ramp-plus-yellow-lights-and-a-little-math/#comment-15672 Roadguy says: "But ramp managers do set up a prepay system at the ramp right in front of the Guthrie during Vikings and Gophers games or on certain nights when all three of the Guthrie’s stages have shows." This is inaccurate--The ramp in front of the Guthrie has a prepay system whenever there is an event at the theater, or there is a Gophers, Vikings or Twins game at the Dome. The price varies depending on the event/game. Roadguy says: “But ramp managers do set up a prepay system at the ramp right in front of the Guthrie during Vikings and Gophers games or on certain nights when all three of the Guthrie’s stages have shows.”

This is inaccurate–The ramp in front of the Guthrie has a prepay system whenever there is an event at the theater, or there is a Gophers, Vikings or Twins game at the Dome. The price varies depending on the event/game.

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