NYC Parking Garage NEWS!

News Article #1 - Where Can I Park in New York City?

Finding parking in New York City can be an aggravating experience. Some of the typical questions you may ask yourself is, should I park in the street or in a parking garage. The answer depends on the day of the week, the time and how long you will be staying. During the typical weekdays there is alternate side parking. The rationale for this is to allow the City to clean the streets without being hindered by parked cars. In Manhattan alternate rules are in effect Monday thru Friday at various intervals, usually between 7:00am – 9:00am and 9:00am – 10:30am. You need to read the parking signs carefully, since they can be tricky. Since finding an alternate side parking spot can be difficult many people end up parking at a parking meter. The problem with parking meters is that you constantly need to feed them, so its good for short term parking. The best time to enter Manhattan is between the hours of 6:00pm-7:00pm. During these hours many street parking spots become legal parking and in most instances you can park overnight. Likewise, signs may vary so always read the street signs carefully. Illegal parking can cost you big bucks, so park smart.

News Article #2- Which Parking Garage is Right for Me?

For many of us a parking garage is the best alternative and only choice. Parking garages offer convenience and peace of mind, but at a steep price. If you are driving into the City make sure to plan ahead and decide on a parking garage in advance. There are hundreds of parking garages in New York City, so finding a place may be a daunting experience. The flashing parking garage signs and flag waving parking garage attendants are all marketing ploys to get you into the parking garage. Many of these parking garages are very expensive, so be sure to ask the price before entering. Even the parking garage signs are aimed at confusing the customer. Almost all parking garage signs display the prices without tax and on a per hour basis. So the $10 price you see may be for only 30 minutes of parking and once you add the 18% parking garage tax, you are talking big bucks. So, if you are planning a night on the town, look for all parking garages within close proximity to your final destination. Call the parking garage ahead of time and get pricing information. You need to weigh your options and decide whether it pays to park 10 blocks away to save some money. Keep in mind that the further you park from the tourist locations, the cheaper parking will be. Parking will also be less crowded a few blocks away from major attractions, Broadway shows and the like.

News Article #3- Parking Garage Safety Information

Regardless of where you park, always check your vehicle when you pull into a parking garage. You should circle your vehicle, making note of any scratches, dents and damage. In most good parking garages the parking garage attendants look your car over and write down any visible damage. This is a good practice for the parking garages since it gives the customer peace of mind and also protects the parking garages from false accusations. When leaving the parking garage you should always reexamine the vehicle, carefully checking every panel for new damage. If you spot new damage immediately show it to the parking garage staff and ask to speak with the parking garage manager. If nobody is available, ask the parking garage attendant to fill out a claim form. Make sure you get something in writing describing the damage, date, time and the name of the parking garage attendants. If the parking attendants give you a hard time, you can file a police report. If the damage is clearly the parking garages fault, most parking garages will fix the damage. However, if the damage you complain of is a tiny screw mark or minor scratch on the bumper, you will have an uphill battle trying to convince the parking garage to pay out. Parking garages will quickly point to the huge sign that says “not responsible for painted plastic bumpers” and disregard your claim. If this is not enough, flip over your parking ticket or monthly parking garage contract and read the small print. It usually exonerates the parking garage from parking garage bumps and thumps, meaning you will have a hard time winning in court. The best advice is to use common sense when selecting a parking garage. Don’t pull into an over crowded parking garage and expect your car to get the golden touch, its not happening.

News Article #4- Should I tip the parking garage attendant?

Another important subject when parking in parking garages is whether to tip the parking garage attendant. This a subject of controversy since many people feel that parking garages are already over prices, so why pay anything extra. The reality is most people tip the parking garage attendants. Tips can vary anywhere from $1 to infinity, its very subjective. Most parking attendants appreciate the extra dough, so it is usually the right thing to do. However, if you find that the parking garage damaged your car, by all means do not give them a dime.

News Article #5- How can I protect my car bumper in the parking garage?

To protect their vehicles from unwanted dents and scratch, many New Yorkers are gearing up with bumper protection products such as bumper protectors, bumper guards and car door guards. The most popular bumper protector for parking garages is the Bumper Blocker. You simply attach the product when you enter the parking garage and remove the product before leaving. The soft foam protect the car bumper and acts as a barrier. Since the BumperBlocker wraps around the car bumper it covers a large surface area making it the most desirable for NYC parking garages.

Useful Links
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dot/html/motorist/parking/prkintro.html
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/consumers - NYC Dept of Consumer Affairs
http://www.bbb.com -Check the status of a parking garage for complaint history
http://www.nyc.gov/nypd - If you have to file a complaint or get copy of accident record