BART’s unintended consequences
Our local regional commuter train system, BART, introduced paid-preferred-spot parking something like a year ago… but I’ve now seen the users working the system and I have to wonder whether the change really improved BART’s revenues.
The deal was $63 per month, and the buyer gets a reserved spot until 10am and avoids the hassles of parking validation. That’s about $3 per day on a 21-workday month, and looks like all gravy — cash above and beyond the fares — to BART management… until you see the people parking and walking over to the SF casual carpool.
There goes $4.00 for the ride downtown. By making a revenue-enhancement change, your income goes down.
This highlights the dangers of changes that do not benefit users. They will fight back and find ways around your system.
Contrast this with BART’s long-term parking program, where people can leave their car for trips for a small (smaller than the airport parking) fee. This seems to be more thought-out, with the user avoiding the airport traffic and parking hassle as well as saving money.
Always find a way to work with your users!
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