Parking in Downtown Raleigh: Perceptions Are Real, Even When They Are Inaccurate

It has been said that "perception is reality." Put another way, perceptions are real -- even when they are inaccurate. A recent Triangle Business Journal web poll conducted to measure attitudes on parking in downtown Raleigh illustrates this simple truth. While this poll is not scientific, it does provide interesting insight into the public's perceptions related to downtown Raleigh.

Those of you who live in Raleigh know that much has been made of the renaissance of downtown Raleigh. The upcoming re-opening of Fayetteville Street and the construction a new convention center are frequently heralded as symbols of the city center's comeback.

The aforementioned web poll, published in the March 30, 2006 edition of the Triangle Business Journal, reveals a potential obstacle to the renaissance of downtown Raleigh. According to the article, the TBJ asked its readers the following question between March 22 and March 28: "Does Raleigh's parking situation keep you from venturing downtown?" Forty-six percent (46%) of respondents said parking "absolutely" keeps them from going downtown and is the main reason in their decision to stay away. Another 21% said that parking is a problem, but that it doesn't keep them from going downtown.

This means that 67% of those who responded to the poll view the downtown parking situation as a problem, with nearly half of respondents citing parking as their main reason for avoiding downtown.

As someone whose office has been located in downtown Raleigh for much of the past two years, I can attest to the fact that there is ample parking -- if you know where to find it. Granted, much of the available parking is in parking decks and is therefore not free -- but it is there.

However, I will also attest to the fact that many of my clients perceive that there is nowhere to park downtown. They perceive that they are likely to get a parking ticket or have their car booted or towed if they park in the wrong place. Because of these widespread perceptions, many of my clients simply do not want to make the trip downtown.

It is a reality that there is a good amount of parking in downtown Raleigh -- if you know where to find it. However, the widespread perception is that there is not ample parking in downtown. It is also a reality that many people avoid downtown because of their negative perceptions regarding the parking situation. This widespread perception among my clients is one of the factors that led to my recent decision to move my office out of downtown Raleigh.

The moral of the story: perceptions are real, even when they are inaccurate, and inaccurate perceptions can have a real impact on your bottom line.