September 22nd, 2009 9:18 AM

You can always also park at businesses that offer free parking when you are patronizing the business!

Pretty soon you'll have to pay to park on the street in downtown Raleigh. You'll want to get in the habit of carrying change in your pocket, or Visa or MasterCard in your wallet.

That's because the parking pay stations being installed by the city this fall won't take dollar bills. And they won't take American Express.

Maybe you've noticed new white corner stripes marking off separate spaces along blocks and blocks of downtown streets, where parking now is free. The spaces will be numbered, and you'll have to know your number before you head to one of the stations -- two or three of them on each block -- to buy your time.

The 170 pay stations will be installed in late October and November and will be collecting your money by December.

Parking time limits posted on downtown streets won't change. You'll still be allowed to leave your car for only 15 or 30 minutes in some spots, or up to 2 hours in others.

The rates are $1 an hour, with a minimum 25 cents for 15 minutes. You'll be able to buy more time in any coin increments except pennies: 5 cents for 3 minutes, 10 cents for 6 minutes.

Not everyone will pay. People with handicapped parking placards in their cars will continue to enjoy free on-street parking in downtown Raleigh.

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