Smart fortwo Can Park Two "forone"

Here's a cute little item, for a cute little car, the Smart fortwo: the Smart car people have persuaded some New York City parking garages to offer half-price parking for Smart cars, since, after all, they only take up half a parking place.

That's a nice idea, and for me, living in the New Jersey suburbs, it would certainly add to the appeal of the Smart car, provided that idea spreads beyond the short list of parking garages that have signed on, so far.

The six locations all belong to the same company, Meyers Parking, according to Smart USA. Most are close to tourist and visitor destinations like Madison Square Garden, the Javits Convention Center, the Empire State Building, Broadway and Times Square.

It's a wonder to me the parking garages bought the idea at all, since in the parking garage biz, space is money. It's unlike anybody in New York to pass up the chance to collect twice for one parking space, and parking garages in general are not known for leaving money on the table.

The outdoor parking lot where I park for the New York auto show, near the Javits Center, doubles its rates during the auto show. And you have to pay in advance, when you leave your car. Usually, you pay when you pick your car up.

A couple of times when I parked a big pickup or SUV in Midtown parking garages, I had to pay the attendant a $10 "fee for parking here." Cash-only. That was on top of the regular charge, plus the "oversize-vehicle surcharge," plus taxes, for a total of about $75. One lot at a restaurant where I sometimes park doubled its rates, especially for Mother's Day. Cash-only. Nice, huh?

Welcome to New York. None of these rip-off artists belonged to Meyers Parking, as far as I know. Anyway, you have to think Smart offered some kind of inducement, so maybe we shouldn't hold our breaths for this idea to catch on.

I also wish the Smart people all the luck in the world, in their ongoing efforts to persuade city officials in New York and other cities, to allow head-in parking, perpendicular to the curb, for Smart cars. That would make a lot of sense -- which is probably reason enough for a bunch of city bureaucrats to shoot it down. Maybe another city will start the ball rolling. But good luck with that, it's a worthy idea.