Saw in another thread. Here in LA they're making parking meters much more expensive and extending the hours. While they use to be 15 minutes for 25 cents and end at 6pm, now its 7 minutes for a quarter ($2.00 an hour) for street parking and some are going until like 8pm or 9pm. The end result? businesses in high traffic areas are being hit. I'm using more pay lots or valet versus street parking because I just don't carry that many quaters in my car.
Portland is $.25 for 12 minutes with most meters at 90 minutes and the maximum at 5 hours. We also have to walk to a meter station now and put a sticker on our window. Lots of fun while wearing a suit downtown.
I actually like the sticker machines because you can use your cards to pay for them. They are starting to use the machines here but you can't use a card I think....and it only reserves per space with a countdown...no stickers. I hear this is having an effect on small businesses though.....
Well, it sucks when there is rain dumping down on you and you have to walk a half block and back just to pay your meter.
If its $4 an hour, I would rather find a parking garage that charges $12 for the night til 2 am and walk a few blocks.