Bethlehem Parking (Allentown, York, Easton: how much, university, live)

[Backdraft]

Are there good parking areas/lots near the festival grounds. I looked on the Google aerial map and there appears to be parking garages but I didn't see any open lots. I'd like to stay away from garages since it takes forever to get out at the close of the festival.

Thanks

[toobusytoday]

I don't know of any lots in the city. They often don't charge for the garage when there are events if that's any consolation. For Musikfest we've parked over by Starter's Riverport where there is parking for some office building so it's empty on weekends.

[JohnZ963]

If you end up parking on the street, be very careful for any posted restriction signs. The Bethlehem Parking Authority employees might as well be called Parking Nazis. Even if it's a legit spot, they'll stalk your car, put chalk on the tires, and the second the meter is up, there's your ticket. Beware the BPA folks in the Subaru stationwagons. They're much more aggressive than Allentown, Easton, etc.

[vapama]

thought i posted this yesterday but it didn't show up:

if you drive a bit up lehigh st there is a tiny shopping plaza that charges you something like $5 to park in their lot. and they watch your car!

yes, they are aggressive, especially in the downtown area and around moravian, but tickets are only 10 so it's not that bad.

[urban analysis therapist]

Originally Posted by vapama

thought i posted this yesterday but it didn't show up:

if you drive a bit up lehigh st there is a tiny shopping plaza that charges you something like $5 to park in their lot. and they watch your car!

yes, they are aggressive, especially in the downtown area and around moravian, but tickets are only 10 so it's not that bad.

Pretty much. It's a $10 ticket, so you're not going get butt-raped if you get a ticket. Contrast that to NYC, where tickets are $55 and up. The Subaru/Wrangler-riding BPA employees may be aggressive, but that's probably due to the fact that they have nothing better to do, and that they need to work harder to get more revenue.

That reminds me of the story of New Yorkers going up to Cooperstown to see the Baseball Hall of Fame. They pull up to an illegal parking space and ask a pedestrian how much a parking ticket costs. The pedestrian replies $10. The New Yorkers look at the situation as "parking is only $10 for the whole day".

That said, parking in Bethlehem is dirt cheap. Garages are usually $5 for the whole day. I recently borrowed my parent's car for the last couple of weeks, and I was astounded that the Lehigh University garages only charged $1 for a whole day of parking (it happened to be raised to $2 the day I arrived with the car, but I got in very early in the morning before they raised the prices. $2 is still dirt cheap any way you look at it).

And if you're worried about waiting in long lines in garages after festivals, don't. Their closer proximity to the grounds and the general lack of parking lots close by means that you won't save any time by parking in a lot further away. If you do want a free parking lot, but don't mind the walk, the Lehigh University faculty lots are free during the weekends (but off-limits during the weekdays, obviously).

[Backdraft]

Thanks everyone for the info. I thought parking would be much more difficult than it was. I was able to park on the street 3 blocks away.

The Celtic Festival was great. Thanks again.

[keithlantz]

Parking for Celtic Fest is generally painless as there are plenty of on-street parking spaces. (Musikfest is much, much worse.)

A note about the BPA Nazies...I say good for them that they are doing their job and doing it well. I live on a street zoned for 2-hour parking (unless you have a residential sticker) and rules are rules. Park for 2 hours, but you better move it after your time is up. The signs are easy to understand and parking in the (safe and secure) garages is only $1 per hour (max of $6 for the day). So, unless you are a cheapskate or don't like rules, the BPA is doing what it is supposed to do.