DENVER – You’ll be able to park for free and for as long as you want in most areas around town for the next 30 days, Denver.
That’s because the city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is suspending enforcement of certain parking restrictions as part of Denver’s response to the novel coronavirus.
So, what can you get away with for the time being that you couldn’t get away with before?
For one, you can begin parking at metered spots without having to worry about spending your hard-earned laundry quarters. City officials said Thursday all meters would be free and without time limits. The same rule applies for time-limited, non-metered parking.
Residential permit parking areas are also fair game, city officials said, as are 72-hour parking limits – residents and visitors can park their vehicles in one spot for more than three days now.
Also on the enforcement chopping block? Large vehicle parking. That’s right. You’ll be able to park your humongous trucks and other vehicles that are more than 22 feet in length on the street.
And if you’ve ever dreamed of defying the law by parking in school bus loading zones, good news: You can now do that too.
Want more good news? The city is also giving the boot to – well, you guessed it – the Denver boot.
The city’s street sweeping program is still scheduled to begin on April 1, but the city will not scold you in the form of a ticket if you don’t move your vehicle. You’re being asked to kindly move your car if you’re able to though, so street sweepers can reach the curb line and sweep more effectively.
There are still some rules in place. It’s not all anarchy, you know?
City officials are stopping you from getting too carried away with the temporary rule-breaking, so here’s what you can’t still do:
You still can’t park in fire hydrant zones (and your car must remain at least ten feet away from them).
In order to promote safety, you can’t park in “No Stopping” or “No Parking” zones.
Loading zones – whether it be passenger, truck, permitted, general, temporary, etc. – are still a big no-no.
RTD transit stops are forbidden as well – ridership may have gone down 60% but people still use public transportation, you know?
Special parking permitted places such as accessible spaces, Carshare, church zones and fire zones? Don’t even think about it, Karen.
Parking in travel lanes, including bike and transit lanes, is also still a big, fat NO. NEIN. NYET.
DOTI said it would evaluate an extension of the above rules on a month-to-month basis.
Denver follows Boulder’s example during COVID-19 outbreak
The city of Boulder on Wednesday said it was adjusting its parking enforcement to support businesses affected by the novel coronavirus outbreak.
With that in mind, the city is allowing a grace period of 20 minutes for all on-street paid parking in Downton Boulder, University Hill and Boulder Junction, to accommodate curbside pickup as well as drop off and delivery.
Boulder officials also said short-term parking in the city’s downtown parking garages was currently free through Sunday night on March 29.
Overnight parking (between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.) is still not allowed, though, and violators will be given the boot – or worse – will be towed and charged.
Normal garage parking and enforcement operations would resume on Monday, March 30 at 3 a.m.
