How far will you walk to avoid paying for parking?

[Deleted]

I have to pick up a running race package from a university campus this weekend that charges for parking even on Saturdays. The fee is only $5, but I HATE HATE HATE paying for parking, especially on weekends. I could park for free in a neighbourhood somewhat close by (and that's probably what I'll do) and walk to campus.

To what lengths, though, do other people go to to avoid paying for parking?

[rbp]

I used to walk a mile to avoid paying $5. Now that I'm more lazy and less cheap, I'll only walk a block or two.

[shell24]

Depends on how late I am running lol

[mbcdefg]

For a $5 parking fee, I'd probably only walk a couple of blocks. $5 is a steal.

The exception would be if the parking lot will be a madhouse when people are trying to leave. I'd rather walk 10 minutes away and then get in my car and zip away, than sit in line for 10-20 minutes to exit a crowded parking lot.

MH will park ridiculously far away in order to avoid paying for parking.

[audette]

Here, if parking is paid, I pay it. My car stands out as being obviously belonging to a foreigner/expat, and that makes it a target for parking tickets... (that, and, well, if the parking isn't free in the area, I don't want to park there)

$5 is worth not walking a long way for me. Life is too short to fuss about some things.

[phunluvin82]

I avoid paying for parking at almost all costs...but typically where I have this sort of issue, like in downtown/French Quarter, it would be more like $15-20. I'll walk quite a ways to avoid that. But I really don't mind walking in general. I used to occasionally walk 3.5 miles each way to/from work if my car was in the shop. Now I bike. Not a whole lot in the way of parking fees for bikes!

[yentl]

Pretty far. I almost never pay for parking. If I'm going somewhere really quickly and there's metered parking where I can get away with paying like a quarter or something, I'll do it, but otherwise, no way.

The other day I attended a meeting at a colleagues house and it was the second time we had met there. The first one he told us to park in the garage by his place, parking was free and gave us all vouchers. The second meeting he was like oh, forgot vouchers sorry guys, and the parking was like $7! I was so pissed because if I'd known I would've not parked in the garage! There was a ton of free parking within walking distance.

I walk/bike over a mile to my office and back because I don't want to have to pay for parking. It's a combination of being cheap and feeling like I'm getting built in exercise.

[Chuppathingy]

Apr 23, 2014 9:07:37 GMT -5 shell24 said:

Depends on how late I am running lol

This

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[agnes]

I'm pretty lazy. So not far.

[raangoli]

Depends on how late I am running and whether it's raining or freezing cold. I hate getting wet or being cold, so I will pay more to be less soggy and/or frozen when I get to where I need to be.

[Deleted]

So many variables here. I'm a New Yorker so I'm used to walking and I'm used to the closest/cheapest lot being several blocks from my destination.

Things that would tip the scales in favor of walking: nice weather, a leisurely day, a desire to move my legs (I hate being sendentery.)

Things that would tip the scale toward paying for parking: crappy weather, being late/pressed for time, wearing uncomfortable shoes, bad neighborhood, carrying heavy items.

[Deleted]

Depends on if I'm wearing shoes I can walk in. I'll walk 6 blocks if I'm in flats/ boots. But if I'm dressed up for an event and have high heels on? Like a block is pushing it.

[aurora]

Depends on where I'm going, timing, cost, etc. I often commute by bus, so on those days I walk more than a mile total (four legs from house-bus and back and bus-work and back). I try to avoid paying for parking at work because I disagree ethically with my workplace's parking policies, so I almost always park in free spots and walk, but that's not actually about the $.

[callie]

Not too far. But I'm lazy so...

[rubytue]

Maybe it's the city person in me, or the lazy factor, but I generally just pay. There are a couple of paid lots/garages I use all the time, and I can't think of any time recently that I've tried to find free parking instead.

[jewel]

I'm lazy, but I'm also cheap. I'd probably decide which wins out as I'm driving up to the event.

I'm pregnant, so lazy almost always wins. Non-pregnant, cheap almost always wins. It depends on the price of parking, the distance to walk, and the weather, though.

[msmerymac]

Depends what shoes I'm wearing.

[shortstax]

Depends on 2 factors: shoes and weather.

[Deleted]

I take public transit to work (to avoid parking costs and transit) so I'm used to having to walk. The dollar amount doesn't even matter, much, I just hate paying for parking on weekends.

In my city, street parking is free on Sundays but the lots still charge. It's funny to see completely empty lots, with cars lined up and down the streets.

[212]

Before I had a baby I used to deal with alternate side parking rules. For 3hrs a week I had to sit in my car, move out of the spot for the street cleaner, then pull back into the spot and wait until the restrictions were over. That's how much I hate paying for parking. I ended up getting rid of my car because it was too much.

Now I pay out the ass to keep my car a block away. Age has made me lazy.

[h]

Am I running late? How is the weather? Do I have any kids with me? If I am alone, it's nice out, and I have plenty of time, I would be happy to walk quite a ways. But I can't remember the last time that happened.

[gibbinator]

I will also walk a mile in the daytime to avoid paid parking. I hate paying for parking unless I intend to use that parking space for several hours and it's a flat fee (rather than hourly).
Eta : this assumes my kid isn't with me.

[Deleted]

The only place I drive where I have to pay to park is Manhattan. And there I usually just valet at my destination if they have it (hotels) or park in a garage. Circling the East Village on a Saturday looking for street parking is my idea of hell.

[Deleted]

My husband will drive around the block for several hours looking for on-street parking. He has to move the car several times a week for street cleaning -- usually it is a 20-minute deal, but sometimes it takes a LONG time.

Since we don't want to spend $600+ a month for parking (particularly because the car probably isn't worth $600), that's our option.

That said, I think he's crazy for insisting that we keep the car.

[genet313]

not parking, but i walk to/from work to avoid paying for the subway (20 minutes, about 1 mile).  I will walk as long as it's not totally freezing/superhot or i'm not running totally late.

ETA: grammar

[dragonfly08]

Too many factors for me to say in advance...it depends on my schedule, shoes, weather, distance. I won't walk a block in the rain if only $5 would get me out of it, but with good shoes, nice weather and enough time I'd walk a lot farther.

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2014 11:58:48 GMT -5 v said:

My husband will drive around the block for several hours looking for on-street parking. He has to move the car several times a week for street cleaning -- usually it is a 20-minute deal, but sometimes it takes a LONG time.

Since we don't want to spend $600+ a month for parking (particularly because the car probably isn't worth $600), that's our option.

That said, I think he's crazy for insisting that we keep the car.

This seems like a lot of work for a car that (it sounds like) doesn't get used much.

[teatimefor2]

If I've made a point to drive, then I'll pay. But even through we've moved out of the city, walking is still my primary mode of daily transport.

[crashgizmo]

I'll either walk pretty far for free parking or I will valet. There usually isn't much in between.

[tacom]

I walk 1/2 mile each way to save $1/day at work.