By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
People parking in the city lot behind Panera may want to start brushing up on their license plate numbers now.
Come August, motorists parking in that lot will need to punch in their license plate numbers and pay at one of three kiosks taking the place of the old parking meters.
The kiosks will be located behind SamB’s restaurant, at the parking entrance on East Wooster Street, and near the parking entrance on Clough Street.
“We wanted to make it as convenient as possible for people,” said Joe Fawcett, Bowling Green assistant municipal administrator. Fawcett was explaining the new parking payment program Tuesday to anyone with questions.
Bowling Green officials chose between three types of parking payment kiosks – pay by display, space or plate. “It was determined that pay by plate would be the most convenient,” Fawcett said.
The pay by display kiosks require motorists to return to their vehicles to place tickets on their dashboards. That is the type used at Bowling Green State University.
The pay by space would require the drivers to see the parking space numbers, which may be difficult in the winter.
The pay by plate requires the driver to punch in their license plate number. The kiosk will accept coins, cash or credit cards. Those who pay with credit cards can add more time by using their smart phones if they end up needing extra time for the parking spot, Fawcett said.
The rates and time limits for the lots won’t change.
According to Fawcett, the idea of switching from parking meters to kiosks came up when city officials were discussing repaving the parking lot.
“We didn’t want to punch hundreds of holes in the parking lot right after paving,” he said.
Stars show locations of three parking kiosks.
The benefits of changing over to kiosks include:
- Replacement parts are more difficult to find and are becoming more expensive for the outdated parking meters.
- Increased efficiency to clear the parking lot following snow storms.
- Reduced maintenance for special events such as the Black Swamp Arts Festival.
- Reduced maintenance costs associated with parking blocks, meter poles and meters.
- Keep newly repaved parking lot intact.
The three kiosks will cost the city $37,000.
The city’s parking technicians will still patrol the parking lots, but now they will carry hand-held devices that will tell them which cars have expired time.
The parking lot will be repaved around July 11, and the kiosks will be installed sometime in August. Until they are placed, the parking will be free.
According to Fawcett, this parking lot is just the first of six lots where city officials would like to change meters to kiosks.
“They seem to be working pretty well at BGSU,” Fawcett said.
The city lots will be changed over as they need repaving. The next in line is the parking lot behind the Clazel.
“We will certainly take lessons from this and apply them to the next ones,” he said.
Mary Hinkelman, managing director of Downtown BG, said most of the business owners in the downtown area like the change to parking kiosks.
“I’m hearing good things,” Hinkelman said. “They’re excited it’s coming,” especially the app that allows shoppers or diners to add time to their parking space through their smart phones – without having to walk to the lot.
