Downtown parking update?

[nativeomahan]

I’m over 65 and have used the new system several times. It’s not exactly difficult, even for an old guy like me. The hardest part was recalling my license plate # (I now have a photo saved to my phone) and finding the “green” button on the payment machine (it’s not exactly bright green), which you must push to activate the touch screen. But it’s so nice not to have to fish out change from your car or pocket. I don’t recall if the machines are bilingual or not. It takes 30-60 seconds and you are on your way. You can opt to receive an emailed receipt, or just take a photo of the screen with all of your information.
I really like this system.

[Dusty]

I’m over 65 and have used the new system several times. It’s not exactly difficult, even for an old guy like me. The hardest part was recalling my license plate # (I now have a photo saved to my phone) and finding the “green” button on the payment machine (it’s not exactly bright green), which you must push to activate the touch screen. But it’s so nice not to have to fish out change from your car or pocket. I don’t recall if the machines are bilingual or not. It takes 30-60 seconds and you are on your way. You can opt to receive an emailed receipt, or just take a photo of the screen with all of your information.
I really like this system.

I downloaded the app since I''m coming back to Omaha next month. It seems fairly basic and easy to navigate. I learned the hard way a year ago when I used a similar system. I had to do the walk of shame back to the car to take a picture of my plates.

if it's not detecting if cars pull in and out, then how are they stopping people from cheating the system? Like park and walk away without paying or pay one hour and stay 5. It seems very contradicting. We will enforce additional charges, but not monitoring? Maybe they are getting people use to new system first before start charging the full rates?

[schumatt]

if it's not detecting if cars pull in and out, then how are they stopping people from cheating the system? Like park and walk away without paying or pay one hour and stay 5. It seems very contradicting. We will enforce additional charges, but not monitoring? Maybe they are getting people use to new system first before start charging the full rates?

It's really no different than the old meters. If you wanted to chance it and not plug the meter or plugged the meter for 1 hour and stayed for 5, you might get away with it, or you might end up with a ticket. Same premise with the new system.

[Coyote]

Downtown Parking Changes

[nativeomahan]

I’m over 65 and have used the new system several times. It’s not exactly difficult, even for an old guy like me. The hardest part was recalling my license plate # (I now have a photo saved to my phone) and finding the “green” button on the payment machine (it’s not exactly bright green), which you must push to activate the touch screen. But it’s so nice not to have to fish out change from your car or pocket. I don’t recall if the machines are bilingual or not. It takes 30-60 seconds and you are on your way. You can opt to receive an emailed receipt, or just take a photo of the screen with all of your information.
I really like this system.

if it's not detecting if cars pull in and out, then how are they stopping people from cheating the system? Like park and walk away without paying or pay one hour and stay 5. It seems very contradicting. We will enforce additional charges, but not monitoring? Maybe they are getting people use to new system first before start charging the full rates?

When you activate the program it asks for the zone you are parking in, as well as your plate number and then you input the duration of time you wish to pay for, and your credit/debit card number. The screen then verifies the information, including the exact time when your parking period terminates. You can photograph the data or have it emailed to you. So I would imagine that if you pay to park until 6:26 pm at 6:27 pm the system won’t identify your vehicle as being authorized to park in the zone it is parked in.

[Dusty]

@Schumatt and Nativeomahan- Thanks for the input.

I did have a conversation with the parking division about bike parking. I directly asked them about the meters. Previously, they had 5 attendants walking the streets looking for expired meters to give citations. Those same 5 attendants will still be making the rounds but will be plugging in license plates to see if you paid. If you did not pay, they will write a citation. With the phone app, it alerts when your initial time is ending and higher rates for staying. You can pay on the app to extend without running back to meter or kiosk. It does seem the best experience is using the app.

As for bike parking, I expressed the lack of bike parking downtown. Also, we have no way of knowing where the racks are at. We spend tons of time riding around looking for options to safely park. We both agreed adding a feature on the Park Omaha website to show where all the bike racks are at would improve the experience for cyclists. They are currently researching to add this feature.

[almighty_tuna]

As for bike parking, I expressed the lack of bike parking downtown. Also, we have no way of knowing where the racks are at. We spend tons of time riding around looking for options to safely park. We both agreed adding a feature on the Park Omaha website to show where all the bike racks are at would improve the experience for cyclists. They are currently researching to add this feature.

That would be an improvement for sure

[Coyote]

Parking changes: Where will you find the cheapest, best Men's College World Series parking?



In time for the 2023 Men's College World Series, Omaha has made significant changes to how street parking works downtown and midtown. Only the base of meters remain. If you don't want to use the Park Omaha app or pay online, you'll need to use a multi-space meter box.

[mistergutierrez]

Do you see anything strange?

Howard street has been recently resurfaced, but in one block there is front diagonal parking and, in the next block, it is reverse diagonal parking.

Has the city stopped implementing reverse parking or is just bad planning?

[JDJase]

Do you see anything strange?

Howard street has been recently resurfaced, but in one block there is front diagonal parking and, in the next block, it is reverse diagonal parking.

Has the city stopped implementing reverse parking or is just bad planning?

I noticed that too and was a bit confused. It made sense to me that maybe they were backing away from reverse parking because, while it's better in theory, in practice it's been messy because of the astonishingly high number of people who still can't understand how it works. But since they still retained it in the next block, I have no idea.

[Coyote]

Concern and confusion:
New parking meter system in Downtown Omaha a pain point for some drivers



Parking attendants are looking at a whole list of violations but it could also just be a warning. Reporter Molly Hudson received a warning citation from Park Omaha, in the Old Market. The violation listed – an expired meter. She paid for two hours, using the mobile app. About 10 minutes after she paid, the warning was placed on her windshield, but why?

[almighty_tuna]

She paid for two hours, using the mobile app. About 10 minutes after she paid, the warning was placed on her windshield, but why?

tl;dr ParkOmaha screwed up in writing a warning.