Parking options

Recently, I had an appointment in an office building on North Shore Drive. It happened to coincide with an afternoon Pirates home game. During these times, the city designates all metered street parking within about a mile radius as tow-away zones. The nearest garages were not remotely close to my destination, and all of them have steep event-rate charges. Any surface lots in the vicinity are available to leases only.

Even if I had allotted myself an additional hour to get there and park legally, I would have had to walk well over a mile to get to the office building. I ended up parking illegally with my flashers on and took the risk that my appointment would be quick. (Fortunately, I was done in 15 minutes and evaded a ticket or tow). I mentioned my dilemma in the office, and they said there are people who have paid a $40 event rate during some events and walked the long distance just to get to their appointment.

I feel that the city needs to re-evaluate the blocking of street parking during events. How can it justify building offices and not providing anywhere to park for customers? Then I was thinking about the disabled. Does this not somehow violate the Americans with Disabilities Act? If I were in a wheelchair or walker, I would need to schedule a wheelchair van transport from a distant parking facility or wheel myself across many busy intersections. This demonstrates poor civic planning. MICHAEL CARPATHIOS

Brighton Heights