Park it

Extended time limit on meters helps downtown parking woes

Parking in State College just got more convenient.

The State College Borough Council decided recently that the time allotted for downtown parking meters will be increased from an hour to an hour-and-a-half.

Increasing the parking time provides a number of benefits for State College residents and University students. For instance, if someone needs to stop at a store or eat at a downtown establishment, that person can have a little more comfort in knowing there is more time to enjoy dinner.

"Increasing the parking time provides a number of benefits for State College residents and University students."

But borough council still needs to remember students are members of the general public, too. In his concern about increasing the times, council member Tom Daubert said he was concerned the time would entice students to park downtown while going to class. He specifically distinguished between students and the rest of the public in his concern.

His concern is understandable, because some students could possibly abuse the time extension.

But what about employees who park their cars in front of their places of employment and feed the meter all day (that's illegal, consequently)? Isn't what they're doing just as wrong as the potential misuse of meters by students?

Once again, the borough and the student population need to work on a compromise that will make everyone happy in the end. And this solution is simple.

What about using the parking garages?

If anyone going downtown is going to be there for a long period of time, that driver should use the parking garages instead of monopolizing the spaces downtown. The garage prices are comparable to the downtown meter prices, so it's not a matter of cost.

So if you want to go shopping in downtown State College, and you know you're going to be there awhile, use the parking garages. That way, those people -- students and other residents -- who absolutely need to access downtown can. If we all cooperate, this borough will be a happier place.