How To: The Fine Art of Parking in San Francisco
By Kate Blood
Written on 2 July 2008
120 views
There is an art to finding parking in San Francisco and perhaps that is why many residents use art to decorate their garages. A painted garage door is the lucky home owner’s 'kiss my ass' to those of us who ride Muni
Don't Hate. Love.
Balmy Alley, Mission District - San Francisco
Parking in San Francisco is a fine art and big business: The City manages over 40 lots and garages, and issues close to two-million parking citations a year. Privately owned parking spaces range from incredibly expensive multi-level car parks to individuals leasing spaces on web-sites like Craigslist, ParkingHunter and parkatmyhouse.com.
Despite the availability of many thousands of spaces, with over half-a-million registered cars on the street, finding a place to park in San Francisco is a nightmare. Visitors and residents alike circle the block for hours in a desperate quest for the rare open, and legal, spot.
Wise visitors will skip driving altogether and buy one of Muni’s three- or seven-day passports good for unlimited rides on buses, street cars and cable cars.
If you do decide to drive in San Francisco, the web sites listed below offer helpful advice for finding parking city-wide. If you park on the street, pay close attention to the signs posted in each neighborhood as restrictions can change from one block to the next. Ticket fines add up quickly and, worse, the price to reclaim a towed vehicle will ruin your vacation.
www.parkingcarma.com/parking/CA_San-Francisco/
www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/transportation/driving/
MUNI Passports: www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm
Other photos in this article...
