Cost to park in Concourse garage not "prohibitive"

There's a parking garage underneath.

From that NY Times story on cars in Golden Gate Park I've blogged about:

Ms. Newcomer said she was particularly concerned about seniors and those with disabilities getting to the museum without ample parking nearby. There is a nearby underground parking garage, but she said the $33 charge — not decided by the museums — is prohibitive for many.

Evidently the reporter didn't check Ms. Newcomer's misleading claim---assuming she was quoted accurately---since it turns out that $33 is the maximum that can be charged---and that's only on weekends---by the parking garage under the Concourse. 

You would have to park there for more than five hours to be charged the maximum:

Open:
7 am - 7 pm
Additional hours may be posted for special events.

Hourly rate:
$5.25 weekdays, $29.00 maximum
$6.25 weekends, $33.00 maximum
$6.25 Evenings after 5:30 pm

See also Still debating the Concourse garage.

Reality check: Who is the true President of the United States?

Kevin Drum

Thinking about others

Concourse

Letter to the editor in today's SF Chronicle:

Access for seniors

“Many ways to arrive” (Letters, June 10) requires a second opinion from a 63-year-old native.

A the risk of sounding like a grumpy old naysayer, i.e., “Get off my lawn,” I find it aggravating to hear those who do not want parking in Golden Gate Park’s John F. Kennedy Drive go on about the many ways to visit the park without driving there. 

I would guess that most of the visitors to the park (tourists, families, residents of the city) arrive via vehicle because it the most efficient way to get there.

Am I going to bundle up my 95-year-old mother and hit Muni and a shuttle bus to let her get a view of the public park? How about taking my 2-year-old granddaughter with stroller and diaper bag to the San Francisco Botanical Garden to see the flowers, plants and ducks?

If you are lucky enough to be close enough to walk to the park, or young enough to bike, roller skate and jog there, then bless your lucky stars. If not, then take a a few seconds and think about others for a change.

Timothy Harvey

San Francisco

See also Seniors left out: "It's all about the kids" and Closing JFK to cars and the anti-car movement.