Finding an Apartment: Ways to Make Street Parking Easier

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Finding an Apartment: Ways to Make Street Parking Easier

Staff Writer · Dec 14, 2010

The apartment you want may only offer street parking, which can be a pain. It’s easier to manage when the streets are cleared of snow, but when snowfall hits, it can be become even more of a hassle. The streets have to be plowed, and you may have to move your car often for street cleaners. Street parking is a manageable option though, if you keep the following guidelines in mind:

Don’t Park in Prohibited Spots

It may be a huge inconvenience to park your car further away from your apartment building, but you may not have much of a choice if there are “No Overnight Parking” signs all over the place. For example, if you live in a loft downtown, those signs are probably on the street where you need to park. You may not be able to find a space to park when you need it because of other tenants, and people visiting the downtown area competing for parking spaces. Don’t get lulled into thinking that you won’t get a parking ticket because you or others have gotten away with it in the past. You might wake up for work to find that your car has been towed. Contact the Department of Public Safety to get permission to park in those spaces overnight.

Know Specific Parking Rules

Each area has specific parking rules for street parking and you need to familiarize yourself with them. Don’t assume that what you’re used to in previous areas applies. For example, street parking in Atlanta is different from street parking in New York, where you may have to move your car to the other side of the street during certain times to allow for street cleaning. You can find tips for your area online by doing a Google search for “parking tips and your city name.” You can also check the Department of Public Safety website for street parking rules.

Park in the Closest Location

Try to park on a street or on the side of a street that’s the closest to your apartment. There are times when you’ll need to make trips to your car to get things you forgot, or to start it when the weather gets cold. If you park too far away where you can’t keep an eye on it, you won’t be able to safely warm up the car. You may have to get home at certain times in order to get the spaces closest to your building. Time your errands and other outings to get back in time to get the parking you need. It’s also an issue of safety. It may not be wise to walk a significant distance to your car from your apartment on a regular basis.

Consider finding alternatives to street parking if you can. It could be worth it to pay a fee to a parking garage. You can also pay a neighbor to park your car on their property. Your neighbor may even allow you to park for free.

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