Parking Survey for Downtown Ann Arbor

SUGGESTION
Too many people are using the surface parking at the AADL for non - library business; a receipt should be given at checkout to validate proper useage of the lot.

It appears that this survey company (Zoomerang) doesn't support web browsers other than Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Please keep the surface lot next to the library! (To DDA).
Due to concerns about tight spaces, fast careless drivers etc., I will never park in a garage or any underground structure you build. I do sometimes take the bus to get to the library, but there are times it is better to drive. Thanks for asking.

The couple of 10 minute spots reserved for library use are very convenient, and yet it would be much better to have a few spots that allow for up to 30 minutes parking (validated perhaps?). There are more times than not that I come to the library to return items and check new ones out (already picked out using the website from home), and it seems like 10 minutes should be sufficient. Yet, taking into account getting the kids to not wander, a brief stop at the water fountain, and a slightly slow check-out, and it's already pushing 15-20 minutes. I am always reluctant to use the library spots for this reason.

I also think that many people are completely unaware that they exist, as there is no indication of it from where you enter (and take the ticket that indicates you're going to pay to park).

A much bigger issue than the parking, however, is the many terrifying drop-offs in front of the library. Between the entrance to the surface lot often backing up, to the stopping in front of the library, I have witnessed more near misses than I can count.

Thanks for taking our comments!

I would like to see the free library parking extended from 10 to 15 minutes. Many times I have waited in a long check-out line and found my parking stay was 11 or 12 minutes. I would not mind if any of the parking fees went to the AADL, but it does not.
Thank you.

The survey is for the Main Street area and the library is not in the Main Street area. Further, the survey is very limited in discussion of types of parking it considers and makes no attempt to take into account time of day for parking.

As someone who usually bikes to the library, your bicycle parking is detestable. The location is good, and there is a good supply of bicycle parking, but the parking isn't covered, which should be an obvious need to anyone who lives in Michigan. Covered bicycle parking was one of the most important needs pointed out by the University of Michigan report on bicycle use in Washtenaw County a few years ago.

Further, library staff apparently considers it beneath them to clear snow and ice from the bicycle parking. I met an indigent woman last year who took it upon herself to carry a snow shovel to clear the bike parking that your staff was incapable of clearing, even after I had made several complaints. How pathetic that the library is begging for more car parking when it is too cheap to take care of the alternatives for which the library is responsible.

Parking in downtown Ann Arbor has been easy for me. I always park on the street. Even if I have to drive around the block a couple of times it's just a minute or two before I find a place. Those folks who complain about parking in AA maybe are just used to the malls or are from out of town. I would never want downtown to compete with the malls. Downtown AA has so much more to offer than the mall. Whenever I can I do most of my shopping downtown .... and of course most of my eating out is there!

Covered bicycle parking is important and should be endorsed by the library, IMHO. It is difficult but not impossible to get car parking space but I have only lived here for six months. Check me later. Would like to see more books on tape or CD though!

I think it's ridiculous that the survey didn't even ask about bus or bicycle usage. Perhaps the parking crunch downtown would ease up if the busses ran later, or more frequently.

It is very convenient to be able to go into the library for 15-20 minutes without having to pay for an hour. I think there needs to be parking convenient to the library. If the lot goes away parking adjacent to the library needs to be created. The community very strongly supports the library so the city needs to recognize this support and make parking available.

My experience is that there is always plenty of parking downtown, but it's just too expensive. Obviously the center of population has shifted dramatically, so I propose to solve the parking problem by selling the downtown library property, and moving to a bigger building, with parking (but on a bus line), closer to more of the people who use it. Space is obviously a problem, because the library has thrown away decades of useful periodicals, both in paper and microform. The librarians on duty deplore this, but explain "the administration says there's no room anymore."

I'm quite fond of that lot next to the downtown library and hope that it remains available. At the same time, I have to mention that I came to the site today -- and found this survey -- because I'm signing on to ask that a downtown book be sent to the Malletts Creek branch, where I'll pick it up after parking right outside. And were it a prettier day, I'd probably walk at noon from my office on campus.
I found the survey a bit too simplistic to feel that I had communicated anything of use.

I think the survey is narrowly slanted toward building support for underground parking to serve the Main Street area, without looking at other downtown parking needs and options. Here are a few ideas:

- For areas like the downtown library, I would like to see a portion of the adjacent/nearby surface lot(s) configured and clearly marked for short-term use, possibly with 1/2 hour meters. That could be very helpful to library patrons.

- There needs to be a safe, clearly marked drop-off zone for vehicles delivering patrons to the downtown library. The current practice of dropping off passengers in the left lane of fast-moving one-way traffic is frightful and dangerous.

- We need to keep in mind that any elimination of surface lots will place greater demand on street parking.

- Many people, particularly women and elderly folks, are understandably wary of underground parking. If the City wants to move ahead with underground parking, they need to begin developing and publicizing measures that will keep underground parking safe for all users. This should happen now if the City wants public support for underground parking.

- Parking lots are an expensive use of real estate, and installing systems to transport people are also complex and costly. However, given long-term plans to increase downtown population and building density, we need to plan now for satellite parking for the downtown area and convenient, efficient ways to move people from satellite parking into downtown for working, shopping, and dining. Building more parking structures in the downtown area, underground or above ground, will generate more vehicle congestion when we need to be planning for a future with less congestion.

We appreciate all of the feedback about parking downtown and the interest in access to the Downtown Library generally. We will take all concerns/suggestions into consideration as we plan for renovations or changes to the current facility.