This is how it works. Park at a meter on Washington Road. Put in eight quarters for a maximum of two hours of parking. Get your hair cut and colored, feed the meter another four quarters to have lunch, and come back to your car with a parking ticket and a $20 fine. While getting your haircut, a police officer chalks your tire. On their next round, regardless of the time remaining on the meter, you get a ticket. Crazy, right?
While the North Parking Garage was being renovated, parking was at a premium for the employees on Washington Road. Buying a monthly parking pass for approximately $80, permit holders were instructed to park in the Academy lot, if the North Garage was full. On a normal day, the Academy lot is full. Employees were forced to park and feed a meter, just to make it through their work day. Employees were routinely fined.
Shoppers and employees are forced to see the crazy guy who fines out of town guests $1100 if they want to fight it. There is something wrong with this scenario. There is no lost revenue if someone decides to support local businesses and feeds the meter in the process. Why do we have this? I can go to South Hills Village and park for free all day long, but to support small businesses in Mt. Lebanon, I run the risk of being cited for supporting the Mt. Lebanon Partnership. And for Heaven's sake, use a crosswalk so you have a better chance of getting hit by a car.
Update March 14, 2016 5:15 PM This photo was sent in by a Lebo Citizens reader with a note:
Regarding your post on parking, I’ve always wondered why teachers/admin staff from Washington and Mellon get a free pass. They are employees just like anyone else here in Mt. Lebanon.
I bet they don’t get their tires chalked.
