I was in NYC over MLK weekend and it took me about a half hour to find a parking spot. If a parking space exchange existed, I would have gladly paid a small fee instead of circling the block 12 times. The exchange could work as follows: I could have called in to an operator to indicate interest. If there was a slot available, they would let me know the cross streets. It would be important to incentivize people leaving their parking spots to call and contribute, so perhaps future parking spot credits would be given for those who called in when they were about to leave their current parking space. If this happened, the operator would let me know that, for example, a black SUV would be leaving the spot at Columbus and 71st. I would meet them there and wait for them to exit the parking space.

This would be difficult to implement, as there are no rights to a parking spot, and things could get messy if somebody pays for a spot but is beaten there by another car. Also, this system would only really work well if a lot of people signed up. Those two issues notwithstanding, I think this is something the people of New York would be willing to pay for, considering that a monthly parking spot on the Upper West Side costs as much as $925 per month.

What do you think of this idea or comment?
(You can change your vote at any time)

I agree

No opinion

I disagree