Free Parking at Boston Meters on Valentine's Day

The city has declared all parking meters will be free on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013.

After a hard weekend of snow and shoveling, the city of Boston decided to show its residents and businesses a little love this week. To celebrate Valentine's Day, Mayor Menino announced on Wednesday that all parking meters in the city of Boston would be free all day on Valentine's Day. Menino said the move is an effort to help businesses "make up for lost time" due to this past weekend's blizzard.   “Whether you’re showering yourself, a friend or a special someone with love this Valentine’s Day, we want to make it as easy as possible for residents and visitors to spend some time and money at Boston businesses and restaurants tomorrow,” Mayor Menino said. “Get out there and share the love!” Well, you heard him. When you're taking you're …

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Should Beacon Hill Residents Get to 'Hold' Their Parking Spots?

Parking is already difficult on Beacon Hill, even without 2 feet of snow on the ground.

In the wake of the Blizzard of 2013, parking has become unbelievably difficult between the city's parking ban, the shrinking of streets to one-lane roads, and the 10-or-more-foot high and five-foot deep piles of snow that line the streets. Bostonians all know of the tradition in the city that when you shovel out a parking spot, you can "hold" that parking spot with a chair, trash barrel or other object for up to 48 hours after the parking ban ends.  Proponents say that the ban encourages people to do a good job clearing out their spot, knowing their hard work won't go to waste as soon as they move their car. Opponents say that you can't claim a parking spot as "yours" just because you parked there before the blizzard.  What's your personal…

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Lindsey

5:01 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Jokes on you, Carolle. Clearly, you're the ignorant, arrogant, lazy A*@*hole here! (in your own words)   more ›

O'Malley: New Signage, Enforcement to Lead to Better Traffic Flow

Do you know what a "pig parker" is? Don't be one.

District 6 Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley says he loves the "old world charm" of Boston, but says it's time motorists learned "the new rules of the road." At Wednesday's Council meeting, O'Malley called for a future hearing to consider ways to improve traffic flow in Boston. Considering that Boston's original roads were made by following cow paths (not the most ideal for traffic flow), he said it's time to use better signage and enforcement in Boston neighborhoods. O'Malley led a hearing last winter to explore traffic calming measures, adding that he "wants to use every arrow in our quiver" to improve traffic flow. O'Malley raised four areas of concern: O'Malley said he's "not wanting to fine people" but "wants to use signage to make …

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Mom Talk

Valentine for a Stranger

Need an excuse to practice random acts of kindness? Good deeds are contagious.

On the spectrum of risky behaviors, this one ranks high only if you fear the fluorescent orange envelope.  We’d just finished an errand on Newbury Street one Saturday afternoon, and the kids were waiting for me to unlock the car. As I dug out my keys, a couple was parking just in front of us. They got out of their car and headed for the “pay and display” meter, the kind that gives you a sticker receipt. I looked quickly around for someone who might disapprove of what I was about to do. I then took my own parking sticker off the window and asked the driver who was about to pay the machine, “if you only need a few minutes of parking, would you like mine?”  Surprised, the man looked at me as if I’d made his day. He smiled and thanked me, and …

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Five Things

Five Things to Know Today, Nov. 2

More overnight parking on Beacon Hill; no crime on Halloween on the Hill; poll workers needed; have a laugh; and another bright day.

1. Beacon Hill residents can now park overnight at three more spaces on Charles Street, near Mount Vernon Street. City Councilor Mike Ross worked with the Boston Transportation Office to change the signs in the spaces. Residents may now park there 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.! 2. Beacon Hill was full of monsters, zombies and other scary sights Monday night, but nothing truly alarming. Police say that no crime was reported on Beacon Hill on Halloween.  3. The Boston Election Department needs poll workers to help staff the city's 254 precincts for next Tuesday's elections. There will be a training session this weekend at City Hall as well as sessions in area neighborhoods. If you are interested, see the job description and download an application. 4. …

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Free Holiday Parking in Boston for Five Saturdays in a Row

A two-hour time limit will allow shoppes to come and go.

Save your quarters because starting on Black Friday, shoppers will enjoy two free hours of metered parking throughout the city's commercial districts. That includes all of Downtown Boston, too. Starting Nov. 26 and continuing for five consecutive Saturdays through December 26, meters will be free on those days. But a two-hour time limit will be enforced by the Boston Transportation Department to have as many visitors as possible in shopping districts.

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