KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Four parking kiosks are being installed on the Kalamazoo Mall this week.
The city of Kalamazoo says the work will happen Wednesday and Thursday, and the kiosks will be operational once the installation is complete.
It means parking on the Kalamazoo Mall will cost $2 an hour with a maximum of 90 minutes.
Free parking remains available nearby in the Epic Center and Kalamazoo Mall parking ramps, where the city has offered free parking for up to 90 minutes since November.
The kiosks accept cash and debit and credit cards, and do not give change. People can also use the Parkmobile or Oobeo apps to pay for parking. Nothing needs to be displayed in the vehicle to prove someone paid, as the app system is “pay-by-plate.”
The updates to downtown parking are being done as part of the Downtown Parking Blueprint.
Parking turnover refers to the frequency with which parking spaces on streets are used, and the higher the turnover, the more opportunities exist for businesses to make sales.
The city says higher turnover is encouraged and as a result, fewer parking spaces are needed to serve the trips generated by stores and it makes it easier for people to find a spot.
Is a kiosk the same thing as a parking meter? In my opinion, $2 per hour is too much. If you are trying to get more business downtown, it should be at a much lower rate than that.
Why? So no one goes downtown?