9/1/2010:

Sweet Lexus sedans for $10 an hour?

No.

What you see pictured below – is a silver Lexus taking the spot of a Connect by Hertz “Corner Car.”

The owner of this vehicle is unknown – however, the windshield had a “shield” inside – indicating some kind of police relationship. Since Hoboken411 reader Steven sent this in – he didn’t provide details as to the origin of said badge. So it’s possible it’s from another municipality.

Another caveat to renting from Hertz. Your special green parking spot might not be there when you return!

[Stay tuned for the next Readerpix entry! - Note: one reader's photo(s) will be featured from time to time. Unless your photo is time-sensitive - it will be published in the order it was received! Additional note: Your pictures will have a better chance of being published if they're in "landscape" mode, as opposed to the taller "portrait" modes... ]

Technorati Tags: Car Sharing, Connect By Hertz, Corner Cars, hertz, Hoboken, Ian Sacs, Illegal, Lexus, New Jersey, NJ, Parking, Spots, Transportation Czar

8/31/2010:

Municipal Garage debacle continues

As you very well know – the botched job at the Municipal Garage in Hoboken not only interfered with a local business – it also left city vehicles scattered throughout uptown.

Now, a Hoboken411 reader discovers that the Hoboken Parking Utility trucks are parked illegally in handicapped spots at Garage B on 2nd Street!

“What is the duty of the “parking utility” department?

Signs posted read: PENALTY $250.00 1st OFFENSE SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES. $250.00 MIN. AND/OR UP TO 90 DAYS COMMUNITY SERVICE. TOW-AWAY ZONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE.”

Technorati Tags: City Offenders, Dawn Zimmer, Garage B, Handicapped Parking, Hoboken, Ian Sacs, Letter to the Editor, New Jersey, NJ, Parking Utility, PHOTO OF THE DAY, photography, Reader Mail

8/25/2010:

Hoboken parking now even more scarce

Hoboken411 reader Walter noticed this city van parked on the street all day.

Do you think it’s right that municipal vehicles make it harder for Hoboken residents to park?

“Don’t we have enough parking problems without a city van taking up a PRIME resident parking spot ALL DAY LONG?

Maybe the municipal garage is too far away… This was taken on the corner of 6th and Clinton, an area where a lot of city workers and police officers live. This is not unusual… and not fair to those who fight for a spot every day.”

Technorati Tags: Dawn Zimmer, Hoboken, Muncipal Cars, New Jersey, NJ, Parking, photo, Reader Mail, Residential, Vans

8/24/2010:

Zimmers city car violates Hoboken ordinances

Coming back from the 9th Street Light Rail station last night around midnight, I spotted this silver Chevy Malibu LS with NJ License Plate LCT-55T parked illegally in the yellow over at 7th and Monroe Streets.

Normally par for the course in Hoboken, but this particular car belongs to the office of the Mayor (currently Dawn Zimmer) and is now entered into the City Offender Zone category here on Hoboken411. It was previously an HPD detectives car before being re-assigned to Zimmer.

• What are official city cars doing parked on residential streets? Any why illegally?
• Why so late at night? (Hood was warm)
• When the battery dies because the lights were left on – does the taxpayer foot the bill for the tow-truck to come?
• Do you think using official tax-payer funded city vehicles for personal use is right?

Technorati Tags: 7th Street, car, city vehicle, Dawn Zimmer, Hoboken, illegally parked, mayor, Monroe Street, New Jersey, NJ, parking offender

8/23/2010:

Parking Robots on Washington Street

30 months since the previous Dave Roberts administration began testing more “streamlined” parking solutions on Washington Street, the city will be rolling out one phase of new “cutting edge” parking meters this week from Observer Highway to Eighth St (on the east side).

In this particular setup, one single parking “brain” is on the center of the block, where you pay for a designated amount of time (up to two hours via credit card or coins) and place the receipt on your dashboard. The city claims some benefits are that you can use the time you bought at any of the available spaces, or even share the receipt with other drivers. The city also claims that the non-marked, non-designated parking scheme will add a couple more spaces per block.

Multiple concerns from residents

However, many readers sent in emails over the weekend with some legitimate concerns about the new system.

Parking Fiasco coming soon

Reader Brian (and several others) are concerned with the mayhem that may result by not having designated spots for each car.

“The new autopay parking system has started on Washington street between 1st and 2nd. I hoped that HPA would use the Jersey City model, in which each space has a small sign with a space number.

Unfortunately what we have already is cars poorly parked using two spaces, and I definitely foresee drunks in SUVs on the weekends trying to squeeze into compact size spaces, to the detriment of the bumpers of the surrounding cars. I sure hope Ian Sachs uses defined parking spots to keep Washington street parking organized.”

411 response: See those bumper badgers for sale on the left sidebar here on 411? Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Computerized system is also susceptible to fraud

411 reader Nick reminds residents to watch out for trickery:

“The city is touting that the new system is automated and fraud-proof. Don’t let anyone fool you into believing that wholeheartedly. Computerized systems are even easier to steal from and alter code. How will the city prove that each cash transaction is captured properly? Who will audit the system? Remember that our entire automated financial system is riddled with hacking and thievery!”

411 response: I’d suspect they’ll have transaction numbers to keep things in check, however, you never know if they have the ability to alter the dollar amount entered on the back end “for the books,” and pocket the difference. You’d have to consult a real fraud expert on that.

Meter Stuffing 2.0?

Finally, reader Cheri wonders if meter stuffing will continue.

“One of the main reasons it’s hard to find parking on the Avenue, is because countless drivers (mostly shop employees) feed the meters all day to keep their perfect spot. From what I was told, these receipts can be shared between drivers, so that must mean that nothing is preventing the same meter stuffing that has plagued the city for years. All this progressive technology should come with improvements that eliminate that loophole. I think those meters they were testing in 2008 had cameras on them and prevented extended parking stays. Oh well.”

411 response: From what I understand is that extended parking both then and now is not allowed. Enforcement is the main issue. It’s possible to check for stuffers using chalk markings on the tires, but the question is does the city have the staff to do it?

What do you think of these new meters?

Technorati Tags: Automated, Credit Card, Hoboken, New, New Jersey, NJ, Parking Meters, Washington Street

6/23/2010:

Good news for frustrated evening commuters

Many Hoboken residents drive to and from work on a daily basis – and don’t utilize a public or private garage. And part of that routine, is the evening debacle of driving around and around until you find a parking spot that is acceptable, and not ridiculously far from where you live. Just stand on any street at the peak of rush hour, and you’ll often see the same vehicles pass you by five, even 10 times as they struggle to find a spot.

Some people have a breaking point, where they say “screw it” and plop their car in one of the many public garages – with the going rate around $30 a night (at least at the garage I use uptown.)

But that’s a relatively steep price – and if used daily, would translate into about $600 a month. However – the ProPark garage at 15th and Garden has a new overnight special that will certainly attract many new customers: $9.00 for overnight parking! With flexible in/out hours. That’s great news – and residents should strongly consider this option instead of circling around, especially on higher volume days.

And if Al Gore owned the garage – he’d say “less carbon emissions” or some other concocted story about planet earth.

Note that this special is only valid Monday through Thursday nights.

Technorati Tags: 9 dollars, affordable, Cheap, commuter special, Hoboken, New Jersey, NJ, overnight, Parking, Pro Park, ProPark, public parking garage

6/22/2010:

Downed wires, wrecked cars, traffic tie~ups and more

Hoboken’s infrastructure (telecom, electrical, sewerage, etc.) is a mess all by itself – the last thing we need is for gargantuan 18-wheelers barreling down our roads inflicting even more pain and suffering on our residents. From getting stuck (or crashing) making tight turns (because of illegally parked cars), to knocking branches and wires down, these jumbo trucks just shouldn’t be navigating our narrow streets.

Below are a few recent snapshots of a wire a big rig chopped down – and kept on driving. I suspect this was a similar reason uptown Hudson Street had a power outage yesterday.

Here’s city ordinance § 190-32, which specifies allowable routes for trucks over four tons.

Technorati Tags: 18 wheelers, big rigs, damage, four tons, Hoboken, New Jersey, NJ, Restrictions, travel routes, Trucks

6/17/2010:

More hourly rental cars available in Hoboken

This week, Hertz Corporation launched Connect By Hertz – a community car sharing program (also called “Corner Cars.”) Hertz is marketing this program as a way for current car owners who don’t use their cars regularly – as a way to “save thousands” of dollars a year, by using these hourly rental cars (which have dedicated parking spots on the street) – in lieu of the monthly lease, insurance, gas, maintenance and parking costs associated with car ownership.

Below is a brief promotional video and statement from Griff Long, Senior Director of Global Car Sharing with Connect by Hertz:

Will it free up parking? Zip Car has been here for years…

While Hoboken411 thinks this is an innovative program that takes the pain out of temporary car usage requirements – many other residents still have their doubts. The city recently said that this initial program will free up 750 parking spots based on “conservative estimates.”

“I think a good majority of the cars on the road today are leased, who is going to pay early lease penalties to use these cars?” said Jim, one downtown Hoboken resident. While Stacy, who lives uptown said “People love their cars, and the freedom of using them whenever and however they like. But this program will certainly appeal to those who don’t currently have a car.”

Steve, who calls midtown his home thinks “Officials at city hall drink too much Kool Aid. To say that nearly 1000 cars will be taken off the road is a Utopian pipe dream. You cannot force material individuals to buy into it.” Others are concerned with cleanliness like Bonnie who lives on Hudson Street, “I’d be a little skeeved out by garbage and germs left in the cars by whoever used it previously.” To address that fear, Hertz said the cars are maintained and cleaned every two weeks.

Uptown resident Melissa wants to give the program a chance, “Even if only 100 cars get off the road, that’s 50 more spaces for the rest of us. So it shouldn’t be too difficult to make this a positive solution for Hoboken.”

It should be noted that ZipCar has had a similar program in Hoboken for more than five years – with 43 vehicles available for residents to use. And many say parking and traffic in Hoboken has gotten progressively worse as more real estate developments are built.

Will these 50 cars really make an impact? If so, when? Or is this just a convenient way to promote even more car usage in Hoboken – instead of walking or biking?

Poll: What is your car usage like in Hoboken?

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Read Hertz Press Release – and see initial Hoboken locations after the jump!

[Click to continue reading the rest....]

Technorati Tags: Car Rentals, Car Sharing, Commuting, Connect By Hertz, Corner Cars, driving, hertz, Hoboken, Hourly Rental, New Jersey, NJ, Parking