Our guide to parking on the peninsula

If you’ve received a parking ticket this week– that isn’t the city saying you did a fine job parallel parking. On Monday, the grace period for written warnings for parking meter violations officially ended. The cost to park on the peninsula recently doubled from $1 to $2 and extended by four hours– running from 9 a.m.- 10 p.m., Monday- Saturday.

With the higher rates, street parking prices are now proportionate to the cost of parking in city garages. But don’t get too salty with Charleston– the city got the idea from other major cities, such as Savannah, who have already implemented comparable parking policies.

According to Mayor John Tecklenburg, the increases were proposed back in 2014 as part of the Peninsula Mobility Report. The report, which was conducted by Gabe Klein– an internationally recognized urban mobility expert, also recommended bike-sharing programs, light-rail systems, circular bus routes, eliminating right turns on red, shutting down traffic on flex streets, and placing an excise tax on residents who own additional vehicles– amongst a myriad of other suggestions to be implemented over the next 20 years.

While not all of the proposed ideas have taken hold, a few have stepped on the gas:

Developing buildings are now required to provide ample parking for all employees
City officials have been working on parking studies for the first time since 1998
Holy Spokes is tackling bike shares
HOP provides a quick way to get downtown, avoiding peninsula parking altogether, for just $5

Overall, city officials want to make parking better for residents + workers.

But for now– between the limited parking options + increased prices, what’s a commuter to do? We’ve rounded up some cost-effective ways to help you navigate the parking pains of downtown– and slightly beyond.

🅿 $7 flat fee | Park between 3-11:59 p.m.

📍Visitor Center Garage | 63 Mary St.

📍Queen Street Garage | 93 Queen St.

🅿 $5 flat fee | Park between 5-11:59 p.m.

📍 Visitor Center Garage | 63 Mary St.

📍 Queen Street Garage | 93 Queen St.

📍 Majestic Square Garage | 211 King St.

📍 East Bay Garage | 25 Prioleau St.

For more garage options, + metered lots, click here. (*note: this is where things get a little pricey)

🅿 Hospitality on Peninsula (HOP)
The newest park + ride service run by CARTA is specifically designed with downtown hospitality workers in mind.

📍 999 Morrison Dr.

🕐 The shuttle runs every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily

💵 Daily $5 flat fee

Once a pass is purchased + displayed on the vehicle's dashboard, commuters can board a HOP shuttle for free.

🚌 The HOP shuttle exits 999 Morrison Dr. and travels down Romney, Meeting, Broad, + East Bay streets. The shuttle will make eight designated stops on its route.
Looking for a ride, but not using the lot to park?– HOP is free for anyone to climb aboard (a much easier way to travel than waiting on your Uber to get to upper King).

Additional features:

The Transit App can be used to track shuttle schedules
There is always a parking lot attendant during hours of operation– in addition to security cameras
Bike racks, + a Holy Spokes bike share on-site

🅿 Holy Spokes Bike Share 🚲

While this option isn’t parking per say, it is an available opportunity to get you from point A to point B in a pinch.

Holy Spokes allows you rent a bike for a day, a month, or even a year. With 30+ spots around town, this is a great option for anyone who does not want the hassle of navigating through the peninsula’s parking situation– or for those looking to enjoy the fresh air along their commute. There are even special rates for MUSC employees + local college students.

Plus, with the newly completed downtown bike plan People Pedal CHS, you can safely + efficiently move throughout the city on their grid of bike routes + use the interactive bike map to stay informed of the developing infrastructure and find the best places to hitch up your wheels.

Time to switch gears + head north (or across the bridge):

🅿 Park + Ride/Rack + Ride

CARTA has implemented seven free park + ride services throughout West Ashley, Summerville, James Island, Mount Pleasant, + North Charleston. Each bus includes a rack + ride service, which can hold up to two bikes at a time on the outside of the bus at no additional charge.

📍 North Charleston
Super K parking lot on Rivers Ave.
Festival Center parking lot at Ashley Phosphate Rd.

📍 Mount Pleasant
Walmart at Wando Crossing
Walmart at Oakland Plantation

📍 West Ashley
Citadel Mall (main sheltered bus stop at Orleans Rd. by Target)

📍 James Island
Walmart on Folly Rd.

📍 Summerville
Dorchester Village Shopping Center (near Money Man Pawn Shop)

While writing today’s newsletter our producer Jen remembered that she needs to pay a parking ticket– don’t be like Jen, y'all.

While we don’t have solutions for the lack of parking downtown, we hope to help provide options to avoid finding a $14 fine on your windshield.

Or you can just circle King Street until you die. We’ve all been there.

– Justine, Multimedia Producer