Free Philadelphia Parking Saturdays Of Holiday Shopping Season Returns
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The city of Philadelphia has announced it will continue a holiday tradition -- free limited parking at meters and kiosks on Saturdays until the end of the year.
You won't have to feed the meters or kiosks city-wide on Saturdays after 11:00 am. That starts this Saturday and also applies on every Saturday in December.
All other parking regulations will be enforced.
"We want to encourage folks to take this opportunity to enjoy our stores, our restaurants, our shops and other attractions without having to worry about their meter expiring at least on Saturday," Mayor Michael Nutter says. "Now on Saturday and Sundays, during that same time period, all day long -- $8 at all Parking Authority garages including the brand new garage under the brand new family court building at 15th and Arch."
For several years in the past, many people would complain that they only became aware of the free parking when they heard a passerby yell "don't feed the meter." But new this year, Philadelphia Parking Authority executive director Vince Fenerty says kiosks are now programmed not to take your payment when none is needed:
"If someone tries to pay the kiosks with a credit card or cash it will be rejected and say no payment is necessary."
He says fliers will be placed on windshields and posted at kiosks.