SAN ANSELMO, Calif. (KGO) — In the North Bay, a new parking system in San Anselmo is sparking an outcry from many of the town's business owners as well as customers.
Many of them want to see the new system removed entirely. The signs can be seen on both sides of San Anselmo Avenue.
Earlier this summer, the North Bay town rolled out a new pay-to-park system along San Anselmo's main commercial corridor, making drivers now pay $1.50 an hour to park in spaces that used to be free.
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"They're angry, and it sets everything the wrong tone for hospitality, for the merchants," said Pat Townsley, who owns Creekside Pizza and Taproom. "People come in pissed off and it's just not great."
Townsley says the new parking system has hit his business, as well as many others along San Anselmo Avenue.
"We're off Monday through Thursday $1,000 a day," he said.
Townsley says that lost revenue comes from the system itself, and not so much the fee drivers now have to pay to park.
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In order to pay, drivers have to either follow several steps and pay at the kiosk with a credit card or online with an app.
Townsley says the process is confusing and too complicated for many people.
A few doors down from Townsley's pizzeria, David Johnson at Sugarfoot Books says he's also noticed people becoming frustrated at the new kiosks.
Johnson says on several occasions he's gone outside to help some of the town's senior residents figure out how to park.
"It's just hard for them to manipulate, they don't quite get it," he said. "Because you have to go online or go to the kiosk and there aren't that many kiosks around."
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Townsley says several members of San Anselmo's town council seem ready to make changes to the system.
He believes that until that happens, many people in the community will continue to speak out against the new parking rules.
"The execution did not work like the town council thought it would work," Townsley said. "What it did was really alienate what's usually a really welcoming town."
San Anselmo residents say new parking system is causing frustration, hurting business – ABC7 San Francisco
