New meters should free up parking for boaters
Office workers used to park for free at the Bayshore lot, known for the Gasparilla ship. Now they pay or park elsewhere.
By RICK GERSHMAN
Published December 30, 2005
It wasn't a bad little deal for a few office workers who wanted to dodge the expense of downtown parking.
They parked for free throughout the business day in the small Bayshore Boulevard lot where the Gasparilla pirate ship docks.
But now, that ship has sailed.
About a month ago, city parking crews installed meters at 10 spaces in the lot. An 11th space is reserved for disabled drivers.
Tuesday afternoon, Cyndi Sutter fed quarters into one of the lot's meters, which cost 50 cents per hour.
Sutter, who was preparing to skate along the Bayshore sidewalk, said she's not bothered by the cost.
"I don't think I'd have gotten a space here if it wasn't for the meters," said Sutter, who lives in Palma Ceia. "It's not a bad deal for getting to park right on Bayshore."
That's at least partly the idea, city assistant parking manager Jose Fernandez said.
But the main reason for installing the meters was to ensure spots would be available for boaters who pay to cast off from that site.
As part of the Bayshore linear park, that lot falls under the purview of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, Fernandez said.
"The people who were coming to use the boat slips were not able to use the parking spaces because people working downtown were parked there all day long," he said.
"The parks department approached us and asked us what could be done to create turnover in those spots so the people who pay for the boat slips could use them."
Now it won't make much sense for downtown workers to park in the spots, Fernandez said.
The meters last for two hours, long enough for most recreational users, but too short to be convenient for most downtown workers.
Also, parking there for nine hours everyday would cost $4.50, and monthly rate spaces are available downtown for that rate, Fernandez said.
The meters take quarters, dimes and nickels and are enforced seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no change machine in the lot.
As for boaters already paying the city for boat slips, they have a tag that allows them to park without feeding the meters, Fernandez said.
Lonnie Thompson, a Hyde Park resident who was bicycling Tuesday on Bayshore, said he likes the meters' 6 p.m. enforcement cutoff.
"I'm usually out here after that," he said. "I can see why they needed to put the meters in."
- Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 813 226-3431.