Help! Anyone who lives and/or works downtown. Cheap monthly parking rates??

[YaFace]

The parking lot I am referring to and someone else alluded to is right by BKL Burke Lakefront Airport. 36 bucks a month. Its right across the Shoreway from the Muni Lot.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by jam40jeff

I don't know if they've gone up since I last checked, but they used to be $8/hour. The question is where the nearest location is to you. I only know of the one at University Circle. If it is accessible and convenient for you, it is usually a great savings. The $8/hour covers insurance, gas, and uee of the car. Remember that the cost of your car includes auto insurance, gas, maintenance, and parking fees, in addition to just paying off the car. Of course, if the location of the nearest CityWheels car isn't convenient for you, then it's a moot point. As I said, though, it's just something to look into.

I am not familiar with CityWheels but I am familiar with ZipCar and some of the other services around the country.

Before you go carless, you have to consider the amount of public transit that is in the area. In the Cleveland area, it is pretty hard to get around the area, especially the suburbs and the surrounding counties on weekends without a vehicle. It is NOT impossible, but darned inconvenient. And cabs in Cleveland can be hard to get. I remember being stranded in Bedford a few years ago trying to get to Lakewood and had a four hour wait for a cab on a Saturday night.

[jam40jeff]

I agree, but if the OP lives and works in downtown and doesn't use a car much, I don't think they'll be in the suburbs all that frequently. The public transit around Cleveland and the inner rings is great (especially with the Rapid, the BRT up Euclid, and the proposed BRT up Clifton). Between that and using CityWheels for the times you need to go to or from somewhere like Bedford (or further) it is quite possible to get by comfortably without a car if most of your time is spent in the city.

[OhioLawChick]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm pretty sure I want to try to go carless (at least for a while to save money) but I don't understand how I hear people saying "they got rid of their cars and went carless?" I would love to not have to pay insurance, maintenance and gas but how exactly do I just get rid of or stop using a car I'm still paying off?

I'm living and seeking work downtown so relying on public transportation and walking is the way I want to go, but because I can't chuck the car, I'm going to park it in the cheapest lot (which seems to be the $36/month lot Yaface suggested) and just leave it there monthly while I depend on walking around town. I don't see myself traveling out to the suburbs too often, but if the need comes, I can just use that car service.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by OhioLawChick

Hey guys,

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm pretty sure I want to try to go carless (at least for a while to save money) but I don't understand how I hear people saying "they got rid of their cars and went carless?" I would love to not have to pay insurance, maintenance and gas but how exactly do I just get rid of or stop using a car I'm still paying off?

You sell the car. After you receive the money, you pay off the note. Then, and only then, cancel the insurance and you are carless. Do remember that you'll have NO insurance so you have to buy it when you rent it.

[Beavercreek33]

I will be living in downtown Cleveland for a month in June. So this helped me out some too.

[costello_musicman]

Also if you're going without a car the two closest grocery stores are on W 9th (Constanino's) and E. 12 (Avenue Market)...i'd say E. 12 would be your best bet.

in my opinion, that's the hardest thing about going carless, carrying groceries. I was carless for 3 years and loved it. I only have to have one now for work.

Good luck on the move! I think you'll like e 4

[jam40jeff]

Yes, if you're carless you may want to get a cartg to wheel groceries home in, unless you go often and do buy loads of groceries at a time. Also, the West Side Market is a great place to shop for groceries. You can either walk over there (about a mile from WHD and PS areas), hop on the Red Line at TC for one stop, or take the bus over the Lorain Carnegie bridge. From E. 4th, the Rapid may be your best bet.