Parking Paralysis

It took Rebecca and me forever to exit the parking garage after Mommy & Me today.  I would expect this after a concert or something, but not at 2:00 on a Thursday afternoon!

One fact you need to know up front is that, in the garage we use, you get a token when you enter and when you return you pay at a machine on the first floor before going back to your car and exiting with the paid token.  Today, as we approached the exit, the cars just were not moving.  There was really nowhere to go, so we sat and waited with about six other cars.  Which Rebecca was thrilled about.  She fussed because it was nap time, and she wanted a bottle, and she needed her diaper changed, and Mommy you promised me all these things when we got home and why aren’t we going home?!?

Eventually the driver from the car in front got out and started talking to the people in the cars behind.  When she got to me, she explained that the machine would not let her out because her token wasn’t paid.  Really?!?  There are signs everywhere indicating that you need to pay at the machines on the first floor before you exit!  “I know,” she said, “but those machines only take credit cards and I’m not using a credit card when I only owe fifty cents.  I want to pay cash.”  Great.  And you really thought the best course of action was to take your unpaid token to the exit and hold up traffic?  Did you think there was an “I Only Owe Fifty Cents And I Want To Pay Cash” button next to the token drop?  You didn’t think talking to the attendant before blocking the exit might have been wise?

I understand wanting to use cash for such a small amount.  I thought the whole “credit cards only” thing was weird the first time I parked there too.  But I suck it up and use the plastic because that’s how this garage works.  If you really want to pay cash, the garage across the street takes cash.  Of course, it also charges $3.00 an hour instead of fifty cents, but you can pay with cash.  It’s up to you.

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