Summary:
Stylized bike hoops on e-park posts make bike parking in downtown more convenient than ever

ANN ARBOR, MI – September 30, 2009 – The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is rolling out a parking system for people rolling in: bicyclists.

New conveniently located bike hoops are being installed in downtown Ann Arbor on the posts of the former parking meter posts that are now serving as parking space numbers for the innovative e-park system that was introduced this summer on Main, Liberty, State, and Maynard Streets.

“Our goal is to continually make downtown more accessible for everyone”, says Susan Pollay, DDA Executive Director. “These bike hoops allow bicyclists to lock their bicycle at popular locations throughout downtown.”

For more than a decade the DDA has demonstrated a strong commitment to increasing the feasibility and accessibility of sustainable transportation options with program funding and capital improvement projects. Bicycling is a great commuting option that provides health benefits, economic savings, and an environmentally friendly form of transportation.

Other DDA Bike-Friendly Initiatives
In addition to this project the DDA undertook three other “bike friendly” initiatives in 2009 alone. A pilot project has placed several in-street bike racks at metered parking spaces that enable up to 15 bicycles to be parking in a single car parking space. When temperatures get colder these bike racks will be removed and stored for the winter and reinstalled next spring.

The DDA placed a commemorative Art Hoop on downtown sidewalks this spring that celebrates three remarkable Ann Arbor arts events: the 50th anniversary of the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, the 100th anniversary of the Ann Arbor Art Center and the grand opening of the University of Michigan Museum of Art addition. The DDA’s Fifth and Division Improvement Project will add bike lanes running the width of downtown on both corridors and is now under construction on Division Street after many years of planning.

E-park is an eco-friendly parking system that features solar powered stations. The system lets you pay for parking from any parking station, or by cell phone. 25 stations were installed by the DDA in the Main and State Street areas this summer, and dozens more are slated for installation in the next couple years.

“The bike hoops make the e-park system even more user friendly”, adds Pollay. “They allow visitors to come downtown without driving, and are placed on former meter posts in high-demand areas adjacent to shops, restaurants, and services.”

ABOUT THE ANN ARBOR DDA
Since 1982, the Ann Arbor DDA has been a catalyst for the revitalization and renewal of downtown Ann Arbor. Funded by parking revenues and taxes generated by new building construction, the DDA operates the public parking system including on-street meters.

A wide variety of alternative transportation programs that support the downtown are also funded by the DDA including the go!pass, bike lockers, Nightride and the getDowntown program.

While promoting economic revitalization and encouraging historic preservation, the DDA has participated in nearly 100 projects, with approximately $60 million reinvested in downtown.

Warm temperatures and sunny skies encourage a carefree, casual atmosphere in downtown Ann Arbor.

Sidewalks are teeming with alumni visiting old haunts, young couples chilling with ice cream cones, families of incoming freshman getting a feel for the city for the first time, and tourists (complete with map in hand, tropical shirts and sunhats) taking in Michigan’s coolest of cool cities.

E-park stations fit into the scene perfectly.

They add to the relaxed atmosphere. Call off the search for loose change! Paying for parking with a charge card (as low as .30 cents) makes parking a simple transaction.

And e-park stations add to the coolness.

The solar panels on top of the sleek contoured body of the stations have a hip, contemporary look that adds to the street ambiance.

I watch as a young woman parallel parks her convertible on North University. She gets out of the car, uses her charge card to pay for her parking at the e-park station, then she and her two friends melt into the crowds on the sidewalk. The scene is remarkable only for the ease of it all.

The Main Street Scene

On Main Street the sidewalk scene is replicated but with a crowd that skews slightly older.

Jill Damon, co-owner of 16 Hands on Main Street, welcomes the new parking system. One of the 25 stations installed in mid-June is directly in front of her store.

The parking spots on her block on Main Street between Liberty and Washington are like Boardwalk and Park Place on a Monopoly board; they’re primo. So she likes the fact that people can’t glom on to spots by feeding the meter. The city ordinance that restricts street parking to one or two hour still applies to the e-park stations. Faster turn over is better for her customers.

“We’ve had regular customers come in who were thrown a bit by the stations,” Jill said. “But we were able to help them out. E-park is quite intuitive. Once you use it, you get it.”

“We’ve had positive feedback on it. Not having to worry about having change was appreciated,” Jill added.

The e-park stations have only been installed for about a month and people are quickly adapted to using them.  The stations are prominent, directions are clearly written and people - young and old - simply follow the few simple directions to pay for their parking.

On warm summer days, the scene in downtown Ann Arbor is carefree. Nobody is concerned about street parking in downtown Ann Arbor, and that’s the whole idea behind e-park.

The convenience of using the e-park system in downtown Ann Arbor was underscored perfectly on a recent rainy lunch hour.

Thunder and lightning had given way to a light drizzle as I parallel parked on Williams Street near the Cottage Inn.

Perfect weather to try out the e-park pay-by-phone feature.

From my driver’s seat, I referred to the brochure I had picked up earlier (also very convenient; located in Plexiglas holders on the side of e-park stations).

I dialed 1-888-450-PARK, and followed the directions of the friendly recorded voice.

“The credit card system is very secure,” Joe Morehouse had assured me the day before. “We meet or exceed all credit card industry standards.” Joe is the Deputy Director of the Ann Arbor DDA, so he should know.

The first time using 1-888-450-PARK requires a quick set up of the account. I then proceeded to furnish the location number (NOTE: the location number for all of Ann Arbor is 4855), space number and paid for an hour of parking. Done.

I grabbed my umbrella and hit the street to see how people were receiving the e-park system. I quickly encountered a man in his 20’s dressed business casual.

“Is this your first time using the machine?”

“No it’s my second.”

“All you have to do is put in your parking space number,” he volunteered. “Then you, uh, press one to purchase, then you put your coins in or swipe your card. Then you press okay and grab your receipt. Not too hard.”

As I watched other people use the e-park system, I was struck by how quickly they adapted to using it. They didn’t look around for a meter and weren’t perplexed by the e-park stations.

The stations are prominent, directions are clearly written and people - young and old - simply followed the simple steps to pay for their parking. Another convenience? You can charge as little as .30 cents on your credit card.

I decided to extend my parking by phone and it was even faster than the first time. I dialed the same number, keyed in the Ann Arbor location number 4855, my parking space number and the amount of time I wanted. It was that easy. As I looked up, I noticed the rain was subsiding and the sun was coming out from behind a bank of clouds. Perfect.

The e-park system in downtown Ann Arbor is easy to use … and friendly too!

The Ann Arbor DDA is stationing well-trained e-park advisors right along side the new e-park stations to help people warm up to the solar powered parking system. For the next 30 days, you’ll see friendly faces in bright lime green polo shirts explaining the system to curious onlookers.

As the solar-powered stations are installed along Liberty, Maynard, State Street and Main Street this week, the e-park advisors are chatting up the e-park stations as people stop and look at the understand how the parking system works.

Take Amanda Liebrecht, an advisor on summer break from college. She’s out going with a quick, bright smile. Standing next to the e-park station on Liberty Street, she was approached by a number of curious people.

As three women stared at the station with the small solar panel on top, Amanda approached the group. “Are you familiar with e-park?”

“Not at all.”

“Well let me explain how it works …”

Near the end of her overview, Amanda reached over to the side of the station and pulled out a brochure that explained the process graphically.

“The system is very user friendly,” Amanda said afterwards with a smile, “so it’s easy to explain.”

The first day of the roll out went well, and the initial 25 e-park stations should be installed within the next few weeks. And friendly e-park advisors will be nearby to help you understand how easy e-park is to operate. Not sure? Go ahead, just ask.

New e-park system designed to make parking in downtown Ann Arbor easier, more convenient and energy efficient.

ANN ARBOR, MI – June 8, 2009 – The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is using everything under the sun to make parking downtown more convenient … including sunlight.

 The new eco-friendly parking system – christened e-park – will roll out June 15^th and feature solar powered stations. The system will let you pay for parking from any parking station, or, even easier, by cell phone by dialing 1-888-450-park (7275). 

 Over The next few years, parking meters will be replaced with multispace e-park stations.  This rollout begins with 25 conveniently located stations placed in the Main and State Street areas.

 “Imagine you’re shopping downtown and you want to pay to park, says Susan Pollay, DDA Executive Director, “You won’t have to check the cushions for loose change. You’ll be able to pay at any station using a credit card or simply dial a number and pay by phone.”

 Ann Arbor is on the vanguard of American cities replacing conventional coin-operated meters with systems featuring new technology. Charleston, South Carolina, New York City and San Francisco have introduced similar systems over the past few years.

“We chose a system that is very user friendly”, adds Pollay. “Simply enter your parking space system, the amount of time you need, and pay for it. It’s that easy.”

 The e-park stations – which also take coins – accept debit or credit cards and generate a receipt complete with date, time, and location of parking.

ABOUT THE ANN ARBOR DDA

Since 1982, the Ann Arbor DDA has been a catalyst for the revitalization and renewal of downtown Ann Arbor. Funded by parking revenues and taxes generated by new building construction, the DDA operates all public parking system downtown including on-street meters.

Alternative transportation programs that support the downtown are also funded by the DDA including the go!pass, the Link, bike lockers, and the getDowntown program.

While promoting economic revitalization and encouraging historic preservation, the DDA has participated in more than 100 projects, with approximately $60 million reinvested in downtown.