Feeding the Meter

     If it's one thing I can't stand to do it's having to pay for parking.  It seems as though every time a building goes up in downtown Austin or the University of Texas, it leaves fewer parking spots to accommodate driver's needs.  One would think the building of more large parking garages would solve the problem but building those garages is really not a viable option in today economy. It's hard to believe the cost of such garages are around $25,000 to $30,000 per spot making the pay off of such garages almost impossible.

     At the University of Texas there are about 16,000 parking spaces on campus.  These 16,000 parking spaces service the 75,000  administrators, staff, students and general public that may be on the UT campus on any given day during the school year.  Parking in Austin's downtown central business district is certainly a challenge but it's not as bad as the parking nightmare at the University of Texas  If you are a UT student the cheapest parking permit will cost you $110 per academic year.  Not bad you say, well that spot is so far from the main campus one has to ride a shuttle bus from the parking spot to the campus.  If you are one of the 7800 students living in a dormitory on Campus a yearly permit to park in one of the University's parking garages will cost you $750 per year. Even administrates, professors and coaches have to shell out $775 a year for their parking but a least they get a coveted F parking permit which allows them to park at the front door of their office.

     Needless to say if you can't stand to pay for parking or fear finding a parking ticket on your windshield you need to be very creative in your parking strategy when you're in downtown Austin.  Parking on the State's or Federal Government dime is always a favorite of mine. Planning your trips to Austin on Sundays when all street parking is free or waiting until after 6 pm on weekdays when Austin street parking is also free is another favorite.  Moving your auto from one spot to another is another trick I use to keep from feeding the parking gods.  There are times I have no option other to pay  for parking.  Oh I guess I could simply not go to the event I had planned and go home but I would be shooting myself in the foot because a round trip to downtown Austin is 75 miles for me.   It's pretty stupid not to spend $3 for parking when it cost me $10- $12 in gas to make the trip to and from downtown Austin.  Every time I pay for parking it's real hard not to develop a powerful resentment against the feared  Parking Police.  They need to stay out of my important business and keep their parking tickets to themselves.  I've got places to be and things to do so I demand a parking spot anytime I please.  Yes I demand a free parking space and you better give it o me or I might just run over you.