Comments on: Market-Rate On-Street Parking: Sign Me Up http://blog.redfin.com/boston/2008/05/market-rate_on-street_parking_sign_me_up.html Redfin Boston Sweet Digs Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:01:40 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Alyk http://blog.redfin.com/boston/2008/05/market-rate_on-street_parking_sign_me_up.html/comment-page-1#comment-1744 Alyk Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:15:16 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/boston/2008/05/market-rate_on-street_parking_sign_me_up.html#comment-1744 It's funny how people, myself included, think they hit the jackpot when they find a good space. Before now, I never considered it a lottery. It’s funny how people, myself included, think they hit the jackpot when they find a good space. Before now, I never considered it a lottery.

]]> By: Alyk http://blog.redfin.com/boston/2008/05/market-rate_on-street_parking_sign_me_up.html/comment-page-1#comment-1743 Alyk Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:14:24 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/boston/2008/05/market-rate_on-street_parking_sign_me_up.html#comment-1743 Hi Tom- thanks for visiting. Excellent point about auction vs. lottery. Both articles I mentioned seem to be pro-auction. Do you see any benefits to the lottery system? Hi Tom- thanks for visiting.

Excellent point about auction vs. lottery. Both articles I mentioned seem to be pro-auction. Do you see any benefits to the lottery system?

]]> By: Tom http://blog.redfin.com/boston/2008/05/market-rate_on-street_parking_sign_me_up.html/comment-page-1#comment-1742 Tom Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:45:41 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/boston/2008/05/market-rate_on-street_parking_sign_me_up.html#comment-1742 While your points about parking are all correct, the goals of the city are not necessarily efficiency or revenue. They might want be aiming for 'equity'. Considering how you don't pay the 'market rate' for any of your other transportation needs, that seems like a reasonable position. Essentially, this is an auction versus lottery question. A system in which people the winners are those who can pay top dollar is certainly more efficient, but not necessarily "better". The city seems to be willing to subsidize the person who is willing to spend time looking for, and walking to and from, the rarely free spots. Given the availability of garage space, I think it's a justifiable position. While your points about parking are all correct, the goals of the city are not necessarily efficiency or revenue. They might want be aiming for ‘equity’. Considering how you don’t pay the ‘market rate’ for any of your other transportation needs, that seems like a reasonable position.

Essentially, this is an auction versus lottery question. A system in which people the winners are those who can pay top dollar is certainly more efficient, but not necessarily “better”.

The city seems to be willing to subsidize the person who is willing to spend time looking for, and walking to and from, the rarely free spots. Given the availability of garage space, I think it’s a justifiable position.

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