Hello Princeton Zipcar Members (& Zipcar),

Some notes/requests re: Matrix Maggie and parking in the Princeton municipal lot @ Witherspooon & Hulfish streets.

1. Please do not park "back in". I know that it's convenient to drive right in the entrance (in the wrong direction) and slip into Maggie's parking space from the side. However:

a. "Back in" parking is not allowed in Princeton municipal lots. Only "head in" parking is allowed. I'm guessing you and/or Zipcar is going to end up w/a ticket if you do this enough times. Too, this brings negative attention to the Zipcar in an area where parking is already tight and folks may be a little bitter already about the Zipcar occupying a "good" spot. We Zipcar members should be careful not to "wear out our welcome" by being bad citizens. Zipcars are few in Princeton (unlike New York) and so draw lots of attention - especially Maggie, who occupies a coveted spot in a very tight parking area.

b. The municipal lot is one way, w/traffic direction clockwise, beginning at the entrance and ending at Maggie's spot. Going in the wrong way and parking "back in" is easy for you but hard on the next driving member (this often happens to me) who has to try to pull out and get going in the correct direction to leave the lot. This is especially hard/annoying in the daytime when all spaces are occupied, cars are waiting in line and it's just generally difficult to get around in the lot - as was the case today when the car was left "back in" (and badly parked) by the previous driver w/ 11AM - NOON reservation. Please take the extra few seconds to drive the extra few feet in the correct direction around the tiny lot and park "head in" - out of consideration for your fellow members and in observance of the Princeton traffic/ parking laws. Again, not doing this brings unwanted negative attention (informally or perhaps formally in the shape of a ticket) to the Zipcar and nasty looks/impatience when the next member has to get out of the lot. It's especially unpleasant at lunchtime or evening rush hour.

c. Be a good Zipcar member and good citizen - please bother to park properly. Driving in the wrong way and parking crookedly (it only takes a few seconds to straighten the car out) or close/over the lines makes it harder on other drivers in the lot, harder on the next member and, again, brings unwanted negative attention to the Zipcar.

Thanks from another Princeton driver,

J

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2004