Nov 19, 2007 5:53 pm US/Pacific
How To Find Free San Francisco Parking
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
Parking is almost impossible in San Francisco. But there are places you can find that are legal and free, either because there are no meters there, or because of quirks in the law that allow you to park without fear of a ticket, if there are no other signs telling you otherwise. Here are some examples:
-Motorcycles can share a spot with an automobile at a meter. Make sure you are within the "T" of the parking spot outline. If there is money in the meter the motorcycle doesn't have to put any in. But when the meter expires, both the car and the motorcycle are subject to a ticket.
-Motorcycles can park at the unmarked space between the final spot of a block and the crosswalk.
-Any street without meters, and no signs. There are fewer and fewer as the city tries to put in more meters for revenue. CBS 5 found two just driving around South of Market: Falmouth Alley at Folsom, and a three block area of Beale St. south of Folsom, but only on the east side of the street.
-Parking in Driveways. Tickets and towing should only occur if someone complains. So you can park blocking your own driveway. Or someone else's driveway, if you know they aren't home and won't complain. Be careful, though. Some not so nice neighbor can do the complaining. And don't park blocking the sidewalk. That's a ticket.
-Parking at the end of a "T" intersection is okay.
-Faded color zones. If the yellow, red, or white zone is so faded you can't really tell it's there, you can park.
-Passenger loading zones. White zones are usually only for business hours. So if a restaurant serves only dinner, say, parking during the day might be ok. Usually there will be hours on the curb.
-Unauthorized red zones. Some homeowners decide they don't want anyone parking in front of their home so they paint a red zone on the curb. Make sure there is an official Department of Parking and Traffic insignia on the zone.
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