A friend, who lives outside Walnut Creek, came into town the other night. He sent me an e-mail, with this accompanying photo, that suggests a couple things:1) First, that people--or some people, that is--still find it tricky to differentiate between the city and the the privately run lots. Either because these people fail to properly read all the signs, or because the signage on the meters and posted at these lots is still confusing.
2) Those who run the lots perhaps need to make it more clear for people to figure out what's public, what's private, as well as improve the lighting so that people can make that distinction and know how to properly pay the required fees.
My friend complained that "the city" needs to do something about the poor lighting at this lot at 1600 Bonanza Street. He had a hard time reading the panel on the computerized pay station at about 9 p.m. because it was so dark. When he told me that he was there at 9 p.m., I figured it had to be a private lot, because city meters stop running at 6 p.m. He just assumed it was a public lot. And was there any signage around to indicate otherwise?
Yes, it turns out this is a private lot, at the corner of Bonanza and Locust streets. And when I saw the pay station, in the daytime on Friday afternoon, an umbrella stood over it, perhaps blocking out any of the light from nearby stores and restaurants at night.Also, there are some signs that indicate that this is a private lot, but how well can anyone read those signs at night? Meanwhile, there is this larger sign at the entrance of the lot that says "Pay Public Parking."
At night, entering the lot, and seeing the sign, one might assume it is a city-run lot. All the sign says is "pay in advance at the computerized pay station."
