June 2006; Volume 6, Issue 3

Pardon Our Mess

Que and Carriage Park Garages are now undergoing preventative structural repairs. These repairs, expected to be completed by the end of August, are part of the scheduled maintenance program. They are necessary to protect the facilities and reduce future deterioration. Repair and maintenance actions also ensure continued service and reduce long-term repair costs.

If you have questions or concerns related to these repairs please give us a call at 441-6472.

Thank you for your patience.

High Gas Prices Have You Spinning Your Wheels?

If you're planning a road trip or just want to cut down monthly gas expenditures, here are a few tips that will make for a smoother ride.

1. Shop Around.

Web sites such as automotive.com and gasbuddy.com offer up to date information on current gas prices around Lincoln. That way you can find the lowest price before leaving the house.

2. Long line at the drive-thru? Consider going inside instead.

Keep in mind, that while your car is idle it's getting zero miles per gallon. Therefore, according to Consumer Reports, for most cars it's more efficient to turn the engine off than have it idle for more than 30 seconds.

3. Remove the roof rack on your vehicle.

When traveling at high speeds, half of the energy used to move your vehicle is spent overcoming aerodynamic drag. A roof rack only adds to the drag and therefore, decreases gas mileage. A rule of thumb is that a loaded roof rack will decrease your car's fuel economy by 5 percent.

4. Purchase a fuel-efficient vehicle.

If you're in the market for a new car, check out the Environmental Protection Agency's website at fueleconomy.gov. This site will allow you to compare vehicles. Remember that purchasing a four-cylinder engine rather than a V6 or a V8 will give you better fuel efficiency.

5. Keep your tires properly inflated.

Tires that are underinflated require more energy to roll and according to the EPA can increase fuel consumption by six percent. So be sure to check your tire pressure monthly when the tires are cold.

6. Park your car in a garage.

We have all done it, circling the block to look for the closest place to park. But did you ever stop and think how much gas you're wasting? A one year study, in a recent book by parking expert Donald Shoup, stated the following. Drivers who circled one 15-block neighborhood in Los Angeles spent 100,000 hours wasting 47,000 gallons of fuel and producing 700 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Park it. We've got a space for you.

7. Budget for gas when taking a road trip.

Visit fuelcostcalulator.com to determine how much a trip will cost you. Simply enter your vehicle type, your starting point and destination. The calculator will estimate how much you should plan to spend on gas. It is a helpful way to determine if you're better off driving or flying.

Your Voice Matters!

If you have any questions or concerns about Lincoln's public parking facilities, visit our website to make sure your voice is heard.

Log on to lincoln.ne.gov. Click on "Public Parking", then "Contact Us". Tell us about yourself and what you want to talk about.

We appreciate all feedback and want to hear from you!

E-Pay Husker Parking in the Wall Street Journal

Lincoln's online event parking was highlighted in a March 2006 Wall Street Journal article. It investigates new technology used to allow customers to reserve parking spaces in cities across the United States. The City of Lincoln was noted for e-pay parking services used for Husker football game days.

Congratulations Lincoln!

Other technological enhancements such as reserving and checking for parking spaces via phone were also featured. These services are used in cities such as New York, Chicago and Baltimore. The article concluded by presenting some information on future parking innovations. For example, Toyota Motor Company is expected to include an "intelligent park assistant system" in the 2007 Lexus LS 460. This system will allow drivers to pull up to a spot, push a button and the car will park itself.

Website Update

The City of Lincoln Parking System is working on updating our Web site. The update will make the site more user friendly and provide customers with detailed information about parking in the downtown area. We want to be sure to include all of the information that monthly parkers, visitors and area businesses require to meet their parking needs. The site can be accessed at lincoln.ne.gov by clicking on the public parking link.

Congratulations to the Employee of the Month Patti Lutter

What is the best aspect of your job?

The people, both customers and other employees.

If you had to pick one food to eat every day for a month, what would it be?

Hamburger. I could make a lot of different meals with that.

Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

Sunsets.

What is your favorite time of year?

Autumn. In fact, I named by daughter Autumn. My other daughter, Megan, was named after a character in The Thorn Birds.

What is the most recent movie you've seen?

The DaVinci Code

If you could have any car, what would you drive?

A new blue or black Dodge Charger.

Car Sharing

Never pay for oil changes or car repairs again. Sounds like a great opportunity doesn't it? Well, for some residents of large metropolitan areas who choose not to own a vehicle, it's becoming a reality. Car sharing companies are popping up in cities all around the United States and literally allow drivers to share cars instead of owning them. Here's how it works. Drivers register with a car sharing company, usually for a one-time fee. The driver then reserves a vehicle either by phone or via the internet. Cars are parked in lots used for pick up and drop off. The driver then uses a key card and password code to unlock and start the vehicle. Trip data is recorded and transferred to the company wirelessly allowing a bill to be automatically sent to the driver when the trip is complete.

The cost is generally between $30 to $40 for a four hour period, but it varies from city to city. Depending on the company, there may also be a yearly membership fee and driving record requirements. The cost however, covers everything related to the vehicle including gas, insurance, repairs, oil changes and parking. According to leading car sharing companies, these programs work best for those drivers who do not need a vehicle for the commute to work and for those who drive less than 10,000 miles a year. Car sharing is currently available in California, Oregon, Colorado and a number of East coast states. It continues to spread as demand allows and has encouraged the use of alternate modes of transportation in many communities.