Spring break parking closures have begun in South Beach. Are they deterring visitors?
The first day of sweeping parking closures across Miami Beach to combat an anticipated horde of spring breakers was much like any other day in the tourist-filled city — with a few prominent differences.
On Feb. 21, the Miami Beach City Commission voted to close most city parking garages and increase parking rates during the weekends of March 7-10 and March 14-17.
Those changes brought frustration to drivers trying to find a place to park Thursday: A parking attendant manning a city garage on 42nd Street in Mid Beach, where the cost was raised to a flat rate of $100, with an exception for city residents and workers, told the Miami Herald she had never seen drivers so enraged in her time working for the city.
READ MORE: Miami Beach officials clarify sweeping parking closures for peak spring break weekends
While the garage was nearly half full by mid-afternoon, the attendant said the majority of cars parked there belonged to residents and people who work in Miami Beach. Only one or two visitors decided to pay the $100 rate, while the rest turned around, she said.
Two Miami Beach hotel workers who were granted the exemption said the city’s changes still inconvenienced them by making parking more competitive.
“Workers on the beach are having a tough time even making it to work,” one told the Herald.
They still had to walk a few miles to work because there were no available parking spots near their job. As the city warned, almost all city-owned surface lots and garages south of 42nd Street were closed Thursday.
Miami Beach’s convention center garage, one of the only city-owned garages to be open at its normal rate, was already at max capacity by 2 p.m.
Visitors will find street parking elusive as they drive up and down Miami Beach. Washington Avenue had almost all of its street parking spots barricaded off.
While private lots are outside the city’s purview and were not affected by the temporary rules, their owners have already begun to increase prices. Most surface lots were offering a $20 to $25 flat rate.
Jay Patel, a 21-year-old senior at the University of North Carolina, traveled with a half-dozen friends to enjoy spring break in Miami Beach.
They were well aware of the city’s campaign trying to stop them from visiting, but by the time they heard, their Airbnb was already booked.
“The parking has been OK, but the prices and food are pretty expensive,” said Patel, who arrived Wednesday.
The group is already expecting prices to become worse, parking to become less available and restrictions to become tighter as the weekend comes.
“The weekend is probably going to be a lot more busy,” Patel said. “The restrictions are going to be a lot worse.”
Their solution? Escape to Fort Lauderdale and leave Miami Beach behind starting this weekend.
