On-Street vs Off-Street Parking: Which One’s Better?

Fundamentally, both on-street parking and off-street parking perform the same purpose. Both forms of parking exist to let drivers leave their vehicles unattended in a safe place that’s easy to access and return to.

But which of these two types of parking is better than the other?

What is On-Street Parking?

On-street parking refers to parking spaces that can be found on the street. These spaces are usually marked to show where people can park to prevent drivers from parking wherever they please. More often than not, you’ll have to do some parallel parking whenever you park on the sides of the road.

Depending on the location, certain parking spaces are subject to different rules and regulations. For example, some spaces will have parking meters to indicate payment is required. Others are only available for short periods. Local parking officers enforce these regulations.

Key Characteristics

Conveniently Placed

On-street parking allows drivers to park close to where they need to go which prevents them from having to walk great distances. Unfortunately, this means many drivers might compete with one another to get the best spots – especially if they’re trying to park near a busy place.

Designated and Marked

Fortunately, on-street parking spaces are often marked for people’s convenience. These spots can be found along the sides of the road, and each spot has its own rules to follow. For example, certain parking spots might only be available at specific times. Others have time limits, meaning a driver can only park their vehicle for an hour before needing to leave.

Has Parking Meters

Parking meters are used by local governments to enforce their rules and regulations on drivers, preventing them from parking illegally. These meters allow drivers to use coins or parking cards to pay for parking time relative to how much they pay. Failing to use these meters could lead to your vehicle getting ticketed at best and towed at worst.

Strict Rule Enforcement

Local authorities such as the police and parking officers keep an eye out for people parking on the street illegally. Because of this, it’s important to follow local parking laws to avoid getting penalized. Failing to follow these, out of ignorance or indifference, can lead to parking tickets, hefty fines, and in particularly bad cases, imprisonment.

Varied Availability

Unlike many off-street parking spaces such as parking lots, you’re never guaranteed free slots with on-street parking. It might not be possible to use these spots at certain times, and you might have to race with other drivers for popular parking spots during peak hours. Because of this, the availability of on-street parking spots varies depending on the time of day.

Well-Regulated

One thing common across all on-street parking spaces is that there are rules to follow. These rules vary from state to state so it’s important to read up on the laws imposed by your local government. Certain regulations that vary from area to area include parking duration, parking rights depending on residency or employment, and how much a driver needs to pay for parking.

On-Street Parking: Advantages

• Easy to get in and out of.
• Parking is free in some areas.
• Quick and convenient if you manage to find a good spot.
• Relatively cheap, especially compared to off-street parking.

On-Street Parking: Disadvantages

• Almost always full, especially in crowded cities.
• Lots of rules and regulations that can make parking more tedious.
• More at risk of vandalism, break-ins, and damage from parking accidents.
• Violating any of the rules can lead to costly fines.

What is Off-Street Parking?

Parking spaces away from the flow of traffic like parking lots, garages, and parking buildings are considered off-street parking. These parking spaces are often privately owned and provide drivers with a safe and convenient place to park away from traffic.

Because off-street parking exists outside of the road, they have significantly more parking spaces coupled with added security thanks to surveillance cameras. This deters would-be vandals and thieves.

Key Characteristics

Automated Payment Systems

One of the biggest traits that differentiates off-street parking from on-street parking is how payment is generally contactless. Paying for parking is instead automated, meaning drivers can park and pay using tickets, permits, and even subscriptions for frequent users. All of this can be accomplished without ever talking to another person.

Controlled Access Mechanisms

Another key characteristic of off-street parking is how they have controlled entry and exit points that help control the flow of drivers, streamlining the process to make finding parking easier. Drivers won’t have to worry about drivers coming in from random directions, nor will they have to worry about finding the exit after they’re done parking.

Large Capacity

Off-street parking often exists in the form of parking lots, and this means entire buildings and spaces dedicated solely to parking space. Because of this, off-street parking offers significantly more parking space than on-street parking, capable of accommodating more vehicles. Large parking lots are necessary for places with large concentrations of people such as office buildings and shopping centers.

Monitored and Protected

Another major characteristic of off-street parking is how these parking spaces are generally very safe. Off-street parking spaces are often well-lit, under surveillance, and protected by patrols of security personnel. Because they’re guarded well, the odds of break-ins and vandalism decrease significantly.

Offers Designated Spaces

Off-street parking spaces are organized and arranged for maximum convenience, featuring marked lines, numbers, lights, and other indicators that tell drivers where to park. These marked spaces help streamline the parking process, making the most out of the available parking space without compromising a vehicle’s ability to enter and exit its lot.

Privately Owned

More often than not, off-street parking spaces are privately owned and offered to employees working at a company or to paying customers at a mall. Common examples of off-street parking include parking lots, garages, and entire buildings dedicated to parking.

Off-Street Parking: Advantages

• 24-hour parking and offers flexible hourly, daily, and monthly parking options.
• Most have surveillance cameras for extra security.
• Easy and convenient to use because parking is automated and contactless.
• Pre-booking might be possible with parking apps.

Off-Street Parking: Disadvantages

• Automated parking systems aren’t perfect and can malfunction.
• More expensive than on-street parking.
• Often has height limits that prevent larger vehicles from parking.
• Spots fill up more quickly, especially during big events.

On-Street vs Off-Street Parking: What’s Best For You?

At the end of the day, neither of the two parking spaces is better than the other. Instead, it all boils down to what you intend to do. For example, if you’re going to be away from your vehicle for a long time, you’re better off parking in an off-street parking lot for extra security.

On the other hand, if you’re visiting a friend at their house, on-street parking is your best bet since you can park close by – and if you’re lucky, you can even park for free.

It’s up to you to decide which form of parking works best depending on the situation. Whether you choose on-street parking or off-street parking, the important thing is to keep your vehicle safe.