I woke up to a not-so-kind reminder that street sweeping season doesn’t end until Oct. 31, in the form of a pink note on my windshield. Thanks DDOT, xoxo.
Here’s how to hack D.C. parking, so you don’t end up like me:
Read the Signs:
It might seem obvious, but make sure to read the signs - and I mean allll the signs. Often, a two-hour parking sign will be followed by time-of-day restrictions. If there are multiple signs for the same parking space, read the signs from top to bottom. They are arranged from most restrictive at the top, to least restrictive at the bottom. Here’s a full guide.
Utilize the Garages:
You may think you’re going to move your car every two hours during the day, but trust me, you're not. Save yourself a ticket and park in a nearby garage if you know you’re going to be downtown all day.
Get the Apps:
For street parking, use ParkMobile. That way you can pay without needing coins or even walking to the kiosk. Just enter the number on the zone sign into the app. To find a parking garage, use SpotHero. It also lets you find the cheapest rate and reserve parking ahead of time.
Get a Visitor's Permit:
Don’t leave your family coming to visit for Thanksgiving out to dry. Get a visitor parking permit that lets them park in your ANC for up to 15 days. But, for your sake, I hope they are not staying that long.
