New York City recently started replacing its parking signs with ones that are simpler and easier to read. Motorists should still be wary of red signs and welcoming to green ones, and they should still read from top to bottom. However, the information is now more concise and the layout is more consistent.
The below green sign clearly allows six-hour metered parking for passenger cars from 6 pm to midnight on weekdays, and from 8 am to midnight on Saturdays. The below red sign allows commercial vehicles to park up to 3 hours between 7 am to 6 pm during weekdays (if they “feed” the meter).
But, what is interesting, is what these signs do NOT state. Below is the list of these omitted items:
- In the sample signs to the left, you may park for as long as you want and without a Muni Meter receipt (i.e., for free) from midnight to 7 am on weekdays, from midnight to 8 am on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays
- During the “commercial vehicles only” time period, motorists can still stop temporarily to drop off and pick up passengers (but not passengers AND property). Don’t forget you must stop, drop and go. You cannot wait while the passenger walks to his or her building.
- You get a 5-minute grace period to walk to and from a Muni Meter to purchase parking time and place the receipt on your dashboard.
- You get a 5-minute grace period to return AFTER time expires
The initial installation of 6,300 signs, started in midtown Manhattan, the Upper East Side, Lower Manhattan, and the Financial District. With other areas to roll out thereafter.
