Birmingham Makes The Move To Smart Parking Meters

The City of Birmingham, Michigan is joining Ann Arbor, Detroit, and other nearby Michigan cities in the trend of modern parking technology. The city's outdated coin-only parking meters have been replaced with smart meters that offer the option to pay for parking with a credit card. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are all accepted by the new meters.

The City of Birmingham will actually be absorbing the processing fees associated with using credit cards to pay for parking. Visitors will also have the option to pay via Parkmobile, an app that allows for people to pay for parking on the go. Payments appear both on the meters and on mobile devices, offering a convenient option for people running late or without spare change to pay to park legally.

Vehicle detection sensors also allow parking patrons to use phones, computers, and in-vehicle apps to locate parking nearby Birmingham destinations, such as shopping, dining, and recreational activities.

With other downtown areas around Metro Detroit leading the way, Birmingham is transitioning from stress and wasted time to easy and convenient options for finding a vehicle parking spot. When drivers cannot find a parking spot, they may linger in lots looking for open spots or block traffic on streets - actions that may possibly lead to an automobile accident. The new smart parking meter technology will help minimize confusion and risks for drivers, and will provide yet another reason to visit Birmingham, Michigan.

Easily accessible and easy to use parking in popular areas around town is important for visitors and residents alike to have an enjoyable experience in downtown Birmingham. As always, it is important to follow safety signs and watch for other moving vehicles in order to help prevent a parking accident. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a motor vehicle crash in Birmingham, Michigan, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

Birmingham, Michigan's Recent City Updates

The City of Birmingham, Michigan is effecting safety improvements, fixing roads, and making parking easier for everyone who spends time in this beautiful city. Read further to check out the latest local news developments.

Internet Purchase Exchange Zone

The Birmingham Police Department has set up an internet purchase exchange location for buyers and sellers using websites such as Craigslist to buy and sell items. The zone is in the parking lot on the south side of City Hall, located at 151 Martin Street, with a sign posted in the designated area. 

Though residents are encouraged to make exchanges during daylight hours, the exchange zone is well-lit if it is necessary to meet after dark. The lot is also under video surveillance at all times. The internet purchase exchange location was established to minimize potential fraud and robberies that can be associated with these types of transactions. 

After-Hours Drop Box

A drop box behind City Hall is currently accepting parking tickets, absentee ballots, property tax paperwork, water bills, and other city documents, for those looking to take care of business after hours or during holidays. The green box is located in the parking lot on the south side of the building.

Local Construction Projects

Three local streets are being reconstructed this summer.

  • Oak Street, from Glenhurst Drive to Chesterfield Avenue. This street is the student drop-off area for drivers of children attending Quarton Elementary School. The street will be narrowed to allow sufficient space for the construction of a separate two-lane drop-off area. The work is scheduled to be finished before school starts in the fall. 
  • Poppleton Avenue, from Knox Avenue to Maple Road. This road is the entrance to the Kroger shopping center parking lot, so it will be kept open while under construction. The work will be done in phases to allow continued access to businesses. Residents living north of this construction area will be encouraged to use a different entrance into the subdivision for the five weeks the construction is expected to take place. 
  • Lawndale Ave, from Oakland Avenue to Woodward Avenue. This one-way section of road will be reconstructed to add extra green space to the traffic island in between Lawndale Avenue and Woodward Avenue, making the road 4 feet narrower than it currently is.

Other local streets will be resurfaced with new asphalt during September and October. Those streets are:

  • Ashford Lane-South off of Quarton Road.
  • Millrace Court-South off of Lakeside Drive.
  • Hidden Ravines Drive, Trail, and Court-West off of Southfield Road. 

In addition to road construction projects, several sidewalk concrete repair projects are currently underway throughout Birmingham. All sidewalk repairs in the area north of Maple Road, between the Rouge River and Adams Road, are scheduled to be fixed, along with repairs on the northeast corner of the Central Business District.  

Traffic Control Technology at Parking Structures

The City of Birmingham installed new traffic control equipment earlier this year to make parking more reliable at all of the City's parking structures. Drivers must use a credit/debit card or IN card (a card that can be loaded with different amounts of money) to pay for parking. The system does not accept cash or require tickets, helping to prevent a backup at exits where drivers that stop to look for their tickets may hold up traffic. 

IN cards can be purchased at the SP+ Parking Office at the Chester Street Parking Structure or at the Treasurer's Office in City Hall. They cost $10, and can then be loaded with $25, $50, $100, or $200. IN cards can also be purchased with a zero-dollar balance, for drivers parking under two hours. The parking office at 180 Chester can reload the card if the balance is running low. 

Other new technology that has recently been installed at local parking structures is a parking widget on the City website. Visitors can check the number of available spaces at each parking structure by visiting www.bhamgov.org or by using the mobile-enabled feature on their smart phones to click on the green and white parking logo at the top right corner of the screen. Users are also able to review maps of the parking location and get directions to them. 

Additional improvements coming soon include new signs outside each parking structure that will display in real time  the number of spaces still available. Drivers do not even have to be in Birmingham to access parking information with the latest technology for the parking structures. 

With so much going on around Birmingham, it is important to stay safe and be aware of one’s surroundings, to help prevent accidents from happening. The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC cares about the local community, and helps keep residents informed so injuries don’t occur. 

Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. Staying informed about improvements and construction in the community may prevent injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured in a Birmingham, Michigan automobile accident, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

Birmingham, Michigan Police Offer Tips for Preventing Crime This Summer

Though the summer is coming to an end, Birmingham, Michigan residents continue to be outside enjoying the warm weather and taking in the best that Birmingham has to offer. However, good weather also brings criminal activity to the city, especially related to theft. The Birmingham Police Department has shared Summer Crime Prevention Tips to help keep you and your property safe.

 

Lock your Vehicle Doors and Roll-Up Windows:

  • This may sound simple, but approximately 95% of all larceny from autos in the city are from unlocked vehicles. It is a very common crime for thieves to walk the streets at night checking vehicles for unlocked doors and then stealing property from inside the vehicle. 

Park Your Vehicle In Your Garage or Driveway:

  • Avoid parking on the street when possible. Thieves are more uncomfortable checking vehicles that are closer to a residence or building, than they are when they are parked in the street. 

Illuminate the Outside of your Home:

  • With the development of energy efficient lighting, it is now relatively inexpensive to leave outdoor lights on, which strongly deters thieves. 

Lock Exterior Doors:

  • Lock door especially at night and anytime you leave the building. This includes keeping your garage door down and securing any exterior doors of a garage.

Lock Exterior Windows:

  • While this is more challenging during the summer when we are all trying to feel enjoy some fresh air, do not leave windows open if you are not home. 

Network with Trusted Neighbor:

  • A sense of community truly develops when everyone watches out for their fellow neighbors. Be aware of your surroundings and do not hesitate to call the police if you observe suspicious behavior that could be related to criminal activity. 

          Vacations:

  • If you are going to be away from your residence, make sure the lawn is kept up, stop the mail and newspapers (or arrange for a neighbor to pick them up), leave the outdoor and indoor lights on timers, and of course make sure all doors and windows are locked prior to leaving. 

          Packages:

  • Do not have packages delivered and left on your front porch unattended. If possible, either have it delivered when you are home or ask for the assistance of a trusted neighbor to retrieve it for you.

In 2015, Birmingham was ranked #30 on the list of Michigan’s safest cities with a population over 5,000, by SafeWise, after the site calculated violent and property crimes per 1,000 residents. With a population of just over 20,000, Birmingham has 0.68 violent crimes per 1,000 and 11.63 property crimes per 1,000. “All citizens have a chance to pitch in and help protect their community in the verdant city of Birmingham. A robust volunteer police auxiliary unit provides extra security at high school sporting events, community festivals, and parades, and auxiliary officers can accompany regular officers on patrol as well,” Rebecca Edwards wrote on the site. 

Summer not only causes an increase in the crime rate, but it also leads to an increase in auto accidents on the road. Automobile Crashes involving cars, bicycles, or motorcycles can cause serious and long-term injuries. If you or somebody you know has been injured in an motor vehicle collision, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of car accident cases. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.