Parking in Oakland

billiburrows · September 2012

i currently take the bus to Oakland but will need to drive in the near future due to us moving to the north. i'm wondering if i need to get on the waiting list now or if there are other options (ie- free parking!). As far as i know, some people pay for street parking but then you have to go to your car every 2 hours to put in more money. that might work some days for me but not for others. i've also heard parking is free around Phipps/Schenly park but that would really be a hike for me since i work by Carlow. Panther Hollow would also be a hike. Any other creative ideas?

Thanks!

egpitt22 · September 2012

I think your best bet is to get on the parking waiting list (although I've been on it for almost 3 years now and still haven't had a spot come up, but it might depend on which lots you pick!) They've raised the rates significantly for metered street parking recently, so I wouldn't count on that for every day. it seems like the cheapest way to go (that I know of) if you have to leave your car all day is Soldiers & Sailors, and even that is $14 for the day.

gwennythepooh · September 2012

I think free, sadly, is unheard of in Oakland. I agree with Emmy, parking at S&S is probably your best bet. I'd absolutely recommend getting on a list, I know the waitlist for the garage in my building goes back to 2003:-/

This part of the parking website also had a list of non-Pitt garages, so maybe you'll find a better rate on one of these: http://www.pts.pitt.edu/parking/visitor.html (I want to say the garage on Forbes has a sign advertising a lower rate - I just don't remember what it is). Also, I think there were lots down around CMU. While not ideal, you could easily hop a bus from that end of Oakland to yours, possibly. Good luck!

egpitt22 · September 2012

Also, where in the north will you be? I'm in Ross township and take the bus in; it's certainly not ideal now that you have to transfer buses downtown, but I'd still take it over driving and having to pay to park any day, especially since we ride for free (Not sure if you work for Pitt or not?) My total time on the bus is roughly 45 minutes. I usually try to catch a bus out of the north around 7am, and I'm at my desk by 7:45am.

billiburrows · September 2012

egpitt22- we are house shopping now so I'm not sure where in the north we will be but would consider living close to where i could take the bus in for free. what bus stop do you use? what bus #? Thanks!

egpitt22 · September 2012

billiburrows:
egpitt22- we are house shopping now so I'm not sure where in the north we will be but would consider living close to where i could take the bus in for free. what bus stop do you use? what bus #? Thanks!

do you mind posting your email & I'll send you more info? or, my email is emmylou1222 at gmail

billiburrows · September 2012

will do!

valkaz · September 2012

gwennythepooh:

I think free, sadly, is unheard of in Oakland. I agree with Emmy, parking at S&S is probably your best bet. I'd absolutely recommend getting on a list

Yeah, the only free parking I've ever known of in Oakland is if you find a broken meter.

The cheapest route is probably finding someone who rents out a parking lot. I know a lot of people who park in spots behind apartment buildings.

pc150805 · September 2012

We live a bit north of the city. Fox chapel/Cheswick area and you can take a bus from the waterworks to Oakland. I don't know what you are looking for in a house, but there is a nice one in our plan for sale!! MLS 929345. We are suckers for good neighbors! I work at CMU so I drive to work and have parking here, but the bus is a good option when I don't feel like driving.

MaryM · September 2012

I work in Oakland and just wanted to give you a warning about parking on the street, where meters used to be. They have now taken out most of the meters and you pay at a centralized pay station the street. Most streets in Oakland are two hour parking only- this means that you will get a ticket if your car is not moved in two hours (even if you have gone to your car to pay again after your inital time is up). Many people I know get tickets this way - they have really buckled down on the street parking.

A lot of my collegues park on Second Ave. and take a shuttle or bus in from there. I don't know much about it, but worth looking into since they all say it is pretty cheap.

laurabaura6185 · September 2012

There is a garage on Meyran (by the Parkvale Bank) that charges at the MOST $9 a day. It's cheaper if you're only there for a short time, but anything over 6 or 7 hours is $9. Much less expensive than Soldiers and Sailors, and closer to Carlow.

When I started at Pitt, I got on the waitlist for the OC lot and Soldiers and Sailors. I parked in the Meyran garage until I got my parking pass. I got a spot in the OC lot in 4-5 months and one in Soldiers and Sailors about 9 months after that. If you contact Pitt parking they can help you figure out where to get on the wait lists for. Some are easier to get on than others.

Hope this helps!

valkaz · September 2012

laurabaura6185:

There is a garage on Meyran (by the Parkvale Bank) that charges at the MOST $9 a day. It's cheaper if you're only there for a short time, but anything over 6 or 7 hours is $9. Much less expensive than Soldiers and Sailors, and closer to Carlow.

It fills up fast though, so if you're coming in at 8:30-ish - there's a good chance they could be full.

Parking in Oakland

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