Parking is once again a top issue in Noe Valley, at least for one reader. The City installed an electric car charging station in Walgreens’ parking lot and not everyone is convinced it’s a good idea.
Curious about your thoughts about the electric vehicle charging station at Walgreens. I exchanged some email with the store manager, but am not sure where things stand. Here are my thoughts:
- Kudos to Walgreens for supporting the environment!
- According to store management, the space is open to all vehicles, electric or not.
However, they ask that non-electric vehicles limit their time to 20 minutes (vs. the 60 minutes for other spots).
- There are two problems, however: (1) There is no signage indicating that; and (2) the parking attendants do not seem to direct vehicles to use the spot even when there is a line into the street.
- I suspect some believe it's illegal to park in the space if they don't drive an electric vehicle.
- I asked Walgreens management to add signage to clarify appropriate usage for the space and to instruct the attendants to proactively guide cars to the spot when not otherwise in use.
Given the limited parking in Noe Valley an under-utilized space is a bad thing, especially with the traffic and safety issues created by the periodic line onto Castro St.
Thoughts?
The City is installing more than 80 such stations around the City, free for use if you need a top-off. The goal? “
Reducing greenhouse emissions.” If the above letter is any indication, that may be tough.
Good luck with taking away car access of any kind in Noe Valley. Close a street to traffic?
We know what happened there. Parklets?
Negotiated with a net gain in parking spots. Whole Foods? Always a line of stopped traffic on 24th.
Ultimately, the trouble seems to be the number or cars coming into our little village, not the number of spaces available to them.
By the way, Noe Valley’s Walk Score? 86 out of 100 “
Very Walkable.”
