NYC garages grant smart fortwo cheaper parking rates
In Europe, it's common to see several smart cars sharing a single parallel parking space, with their diminutive front bumpers against the curb and the rear facing traffic. Try that in New York city, and you'll likely get towed. Instead, smart fortwo owners can take advantage of Meyers Parking's half price offer: 50% off daily and monthly parking rates in the city.
In a press release (available after the jump), Mike Carolan of Meyers parking said, "We are excited to offer smart owners a discount, as it seems only appropriate that smart owners pay half price since they only take up half the space."
We agree you shouldn't be charged for a full space when you only have half a car. With the cost of parking in the Big Apple, this deal alone could move a few more of the colorful little two-seaters.
[Sources: Gadgetell via Fashion Funky]
Thanks for the tip, Yash!
Here's the full press release from Smart USA:
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., (Sept., 8, 2008) – smart USA Distributor LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc., (NYSE: PAG), announces Meyers Parking in New York City now offers parking discounts to smart fortwo owners. Owners of the revolutionary vehicle will receive a 50 percent discount off daily and monthly posted parking rates at any of the six Meyers Parking facilities in New York City.
"Our arrangement with Meyers Parking gives smart owners the best of both worlds: the ability to park at a discounted price, along with the ease to park almost anywhere," said Dave Schembri, President of smart USA. "The smart fortwo is helping New Yorkers change the way they park and navigate congested city streets, while offering great fuel economy, safety and functionality."
At 61 inches wide and 106 inches long, the smart fortwo is a practical solution for New Yorkers looking to find an easy way to park in New York City. In addition to being easy to park, the vehicle is attracting an overwhelming number of buyers who want a solution to high gas prices, a way to reduce their environmental footprint and beat urban congestion in a package that is fun to drive.
"Decreased parking supply and urban congestion represent a continuing problem in New York, and we can't think of a better company to partner with than smart USA to help combat these issues," said Mike Carolan, Director of Operations for Meyers Parking. "We are excited to offer smart owners a discount, as it seems only appropriate that smart owners pay half price since they only take up half the space."
Meyers Parking is the official parking garage of Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers, New York Knicks and New York Liberty. Meyers also has the largest public garages in Times Square, on the Upper East Side and the Empire State Building area. The discount for smart fortwo owners will run now through Dec. 31, 2008.
smart USA has sold more than 16,000 smart fortwos since January 16, 2008. Currently there are approximately 1,700 smart owners in the metropolitan New York market. There are currently seven smart centers located in the tri-state area including: Manhattan, Roslyn, Smithtown and White Plains in New York, Edison and Englewood in New Jersey and Fairfield, Connecticut.
ABOUT MEYERS PARKING -
Meyers Parking is a recognized leader in the parking industry with a proud history of providing courteous and efficient service to its customers. With facilities located throughout New York City, Meyers Parking proudly services over 3,000,000 customers per year with over 5000 available parking spaces. Meyers Parking has locations which provide public parking for New York City's greatest entertainment venues and tourist attractions including Madison Square Garden, Times Square, The Javits Center and the Empire State Building. For additional information about Meyers Parking please email mcarolan@meyersparking.com.
- more -
ABOUT the smart fortwo and smart USA
smart USA Distributor LLC, headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is the exclusive distributor of the smart fortwo in the United States and Puerto Rico and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. The smart fortwo is a brand of and is manufactured by Daimler AG. This technologically advanced vehicle achieves 41 mpg on the highway and is an ultra-low emissions vehicle, as certified by the State of California Air Resources Board. The vehicle is 8.8 feet long, 5.1 feet tall and 5.1 feet wide and comes equipped with many functional and safety features found in most luxury models. smart is currently sold in 37 countries, and nearly one million smart fortwos have been sold since 1998. The 2009 smart fortwo is available in three trim levels ranging in price from $11,590 to $16,590*.
* For current model year only. Prices are not guaranteed and are subject to change without notice. Excludes tax, title, registration, destination charge, options and other dealer fees.
smart is a registered trademark of Daimler AG.
ABOUT PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Penske Automotive Group, Inc., headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., operates 307 retail automotive franchises, representing more than 40 different brands, and 27 collision repair centers. Penske Automotive Group, which sells new and previously owned vehicles, finance and insurance products and replacement parts, and offers maintenance and repair services on all brands it represents, has 159 franchises in 19 states and Puerto Rico and 148 franchises located outside the United States, primarily in the United Kingdom. Penske Automotive Group is a member of the Fortune 500 and Russell 1000 and has approximately 16,000 employees.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Soccer Mom 8:29AM (9/09/2008)
Economics is the best tool available for changing habits. We need more of "bigger = more expensive everywhere".
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John 8:42AM (9/09/2008)
Tell that to Democrats before they have a chance to make up a new law or regulation.
homunculus 9:56AM (9/09/2008)
that really added to the car discussion, john.
Dude 8:29AM (9/09/2008)
Using that logic, just get a motorcycle and you should only pay 1/4 of the price for a parking spot. Plus, you'll get better gas mileage, have more cargo space, and not look like a total tool driving it.
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Soccer Mom 8:35AM (9/09/2008)
That's rather a reversed logic: you don't look like a tool when you haul 7-seat off-road vehicle in a traffic-jammed city with a single passenger at the best and 99 out of 100 times alone. However, you do so when you drive a car specifically designed for city driving. Go figure.
Dude 9:17AM (9/09/2008)
There is more than one way to look like a tool in a big city. We've just named two.
KAD 9:43AM (9/09/2008)
I work in Midtown and commute in from NJ burbs on motorcycle in the summer months. I wish garages would charge us motorcyclists a quarter of the full rate for parking based on the amount of space we take up. Many garages will not allow bikes to park and the ones that do either do not offer a discount or it is very minimal.
CarlosMC 3:02PM (9/09/2008)
You're ritgh about charges (including road tolls), but you're forgetting that a bike won't protect you from rain nor crashes...
Yar 8:34AM (9/09/2008)
So they park two in a spot? This is a parking garage, right? With normally laid out spots? What if the front car wants to leave first?
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phooky 9:53AM (9/09/2008)
You understand that the garage parks the cars themselves, right? As in, they keep they keys until you get back.
Rocketboy 8:41AM (9/09/2008)
Would a MINI only pay 2/3rds?
Also, would I be able to still rent the whole space, to try to keep as many people from dinging my car?
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CuartzFSU 9:19AM (9/09/2008)
Good idea, but I can't see many places adopting these rates.. I mean what happens when a smart takes up half a spot, do lot attendants sit there and hope another smart car rolls in to fill up the other half of that space (or a motorcycle ideally)?
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Smegley 9:54AM (9/09/2008)
I am totally opposed to this. I think people in New York should be punished as much as possible.
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majortom1981 10:54AM (9/09/2008)
That is just a screwed up thing to say.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:27AM (9/09/2008)
What a weird spin. Let me rewrite this for you to reflect reality.
Smart is pleased to announce a promotion where, thanks to financial cooperation from smart, six garages in NYC will be offering discounted parking for smart cars.
No one started waxing poetic about the physical characteristics of Lexuses when they had their own parking deal.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/class-warfare-continues-lexus-owners-get-their-own-parking-lot/
Also note, my understanding is that in most major European cities, head-in parking is not allowed for smarts because the streets are already narrow and the smarts stick out too much. In the US it would work physically, but I believe it isn't legal.
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mroverlord 8:48PM (9/09/2008)
Because THAT would cut in to city parking revenue. Someone would be parking for free...can't let THAT happen.
..and why should people in NYC get punished? I'm from the Empire State (although not the Big Apple) and although I could never live there (too crowded, too expensive to live). People who choose to live in a geographic location don't deserve to be punished for anything.
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meech 12:16PM (9/11/2008)
It makes sense to me. Standard rates only apply to standard sized cars. Most garages in NYC charge extras for SUVs, vans, and other large "cars".
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DjDATZ 11:00AM (9/15/2008)
Works for me. Maybe I'll drive down to NYC now instead...
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