PARKING OF CARS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 10, 12 July 1922, Page 15

PARKING OF CARS

(By "Autos.") .

AN AMERICAN SOLUTION

What is regarded as the first successful | attempt to solve the problem of providingspace for parking and garaging cars in connection with a block of flats or offices, or a hotel, is illustrated in The Motor. Of course, it is in America, but it shows what is so badly wanted iri England, where a club or restaurant with an underground garage would be a real boon. With parking space so restricted and congested in London, some suoh sort of scheme in close proximity to the West End or the city would undoubtedly do much to solve the problem. The underground garage is two stories in depth, and is approached by broad ramps having their upper terminii at a street level entrance immediately by tho side of the large office building. The outdoor parking place is directly above the underground garage. Both adjoin tho building. A fee of 20 dollars per month is charged to tenants using this unique storage space. Clients or friends of tenants using the outdoor parking space are allowed free use for ono hour, after which _ charge is made o£ 25 cents per hour or fraction thereof. Each driver, on parking his car, is given a, numbered check; which entitles him to claim-his car on his return from the office building. To avoid payment of the foe ' he' must have the check signed by the tenant whom he visited, thereby showing that' ho has not made use of the ■ parking place without coming into contact with one of the building's tenants. An interesting mechanical feature of the underground garage is the automatic signals at the top and bottom of each ramp. By means of spring-held members sunken -in the ramp floor a signal lamp is lighted and a bell, rung as soon as the weight of a car rests on these members, thereby warning cars approaching the ramp from the opposite direction.