WARNING: STAY AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN

[Bativac]

From the T-U:

Jacksonville police are warning of a monster jam downtown Saturday afternoon, and they aren't just talking about GraveDigger and Maximum Destruction.

Along with about 72,000 fans expected for the annual Monster Jam truck show at EverBank Field, every other downtown venue will be in use for 11 concerts, plays, sporting events, even a beauty pageant.

That should mean one thing to anyone planning on being there: Don't be a laggard.

"The key word is to arrive early," Sgt. Leonard Propper said. "Add some time to your commute. It is going to be very slow getting into the sports complex and downtown because of all the venues."

...

"Every city venue has something going on," Propper said. "Traffic is going to be very heavy that day."

Fans will have three of four lanes of East Bay Street flowing toward the stadium as of 3 p.m. with signs pointing to parking lots. The Hart Bridge will be open, as will all other downtown bridges.

Fans coming from out of town will have 13 electronic signs to guide them into downtown from Interstates 10 and 95.

Beaver and Monroe streets aren't used as much, and are recommended, as is Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to Talleyrand Avenue to Eighth Street to get to the stadium's east side parking, Propper said.

"Don't go by your GPS. Follow the signboards," he said.

Police will be out controlling traffic with more officers in and around the stadium to watch for underage drinkers, Propper said.

Attendees also are reminded that parking in city lots around the stadium and the private lots nearby are cash only...

Here's the original article. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-23/story/downtown-jacksonville-traffic-will-be-monster-jam-saturday

First of all, why does Jacksonville continue to act like having people downtown is akin to an impending natural disaster? I was in Charleston last weekend. Traffic was terrible. People were everywhere. IT WAS FANTASTIC.

Second, if Jacksonville is going to charge for parking, why doesn't the city at least invest in some technology that will enable them to accept non-cash forms of payment? I and many of my peers don't make it a habit to carry cash. Installing credit card machines won't cost that much and will create a "less hassle" impression by anyone considering going downtown.

But the parking thing aside, the city's weird handling of Downtown anytime more than a dozen people are there continues to baffle me. Charleston was full of tourists, there were no cops, and yet everyone seemed to figure it out okay.

I just don't understand it.

[Captain Zissou]

This is hilarious.  

Cop 1: "Sorry to inconvenience you ma'am.  We're trying to get all these people out of here as soon as possible, but some idiot up there said he was hungry and tried to park in one of them parallel parking spaces up ahead.  Parking! In DOWNTOWN! Can you believe that?? I told him there was a Whattaburger at the next exit once he got on I-10, but he wouldn't listen. Idiot.  Anyway, we'll get you back to Mandarin as soon as we can."


--------Change Scene---------

Cop 2:  "Hey Earl, why you think all these people comin' downtown tonight?  Don't they know we got crime and stuff down here?"

Earl: "Officer, ain't you heard??  They got them Monster Trucks downtown tonight!!!"

Cop 2: "Daaagggummm!!!! Wish I'da known!!  Why don't they do that out at the e-quest-rian center they built"

Earl: " I don't know.  It'd be a helluva lot easier to get to.  They don't have all these stupid buildings and traffic lights out there.  And who the heck are these fancy folks trying to go to see a... what do they call it?? A play??

Cop 2: "I dunno.  Those artsy fartsy folks.  Who do they think they are???  They must be from Avondale or sumthin."

Earl: "Hahaha, they probably watch CNN or somethin stupid like that.  Liberals"

Cop 2: "Yeah, those Rachel Maddow lovin folks.  They're tryin to take away our guns!!  THEY TOOK OUR GUNS!!"

Earl: : "FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS!!  (spits out dip) Hey. You think Glenn Beck will be there tonight??"

Cop 2: "Shoot.  If so, I'm leaving my post and comin in"

Earl: "GETTTIR DONE!!!"

-------End Scene---------

[fsujax]

I am going to ride my bike to the Monster Truck Jam! thats right and urban dweller, fairly educated going to the truck jam! haha

[tayana42]

Speaking of traffic and police, does anyone know if the First Baptist Church pays for all the police directing traffic on Sunday mornings?  If so, fine; if not, why not?

[Overstreet]

.........But the parking thing aside, the city's weird handling of Downtown anytime more than a dozen people are there continues to baffle me. Charleston was full of tourists, there were no cops, and yet everyone seemed to figure it out okay.

I just don't understand it...........

You don't understand the maintenance of traffic or the traffic generated by the difference between 12 people and 72,000 people?

[PeeJayEss]

Cop 2: "Yeah, those Rachel Maddow lovin folks.  They're tryin to take away our guns!!  THEY TOOK OUR GUNS!!"

DOOK KER DOO!

You don't understand the maintenance of traffic or the traffic generated by the difference between 12 people and 72,000 people?

I believe the point that was being made is this: you don't need any traffic control when there are 12 people downtown. However, there is infrastructure in place to deal with gameday crowds (a four lane road where each lane can switch directions, for example). But when there is a gameday, instead of just using the infrastructure they have in place, they bring out a bunch of cops and cones and just completely disregard the whole thing.

[Jason]

If only downtown looked like that every day!

[Bativac]

.........But the parking thing aside, the city's weird handling of Downtown anytime more than a dozen people are there continues to baffle me. Charleston was full of tourists, there were no cops, and yet everyone seemed to figure it out okay.

I just don't understand it...........

You don't understand the maintenance of traffic or the traffic generated by the difference between 12 people and 72,000 people?

Okay, I understand the logistics aspect of it - what I don't get is the city continues to act like Downtown must be avoided at all costs, and they turn it into a police state if a healthy crowd turns out.

It just seems stupid to me. Not the police presence necessarily but the issuance of warnings beforehand. What other major city warns people that downtown traffic might be heavy on a weekend? They make downtown out to be Thunderdome, with police present to hold your hand and protect you from all the traffic.

Maybe it's just me.

[JHAT76]

Too bad the transit options aren't more connected to stadium.  Taking 2 kids to Monster Jam and live a half block from a Riverside Trolley stop.  I can get to the Landing, but then what?  Walking with a 6 yr old is rough.  A nice skyway extension to stadium would be nice.

Also I second the idea of making it easier to pay with credit/debit card.  

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

What is everyone's aversion to cash?

It's accepted everywhere.  If you lose it, that's all you lose.  If it's stolen, it's all they're going to get from you.  You may not collect points and miles, but you don't pay interest charges on it either. 

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

What is everyone's aversion to cash?

It's accepted everywhere.  If you lose it, that's all you lose.  If it's stolen, it's all they're going to get from you.  You may not collect points and miles, but you don't pay interest charges on it either. 

i see both sides ov it.  i never use credit because i don't like any ov what's attached to it--but now that i have a check card, i'm always doïng debit because i find it more convenient than sorting through cash--and regarding loss or theft, as long as you keep on top ov these things, you should be able to get a card cut off before thieves can make any use ov it at all.

[Bativac]

What is everyone's aversion to cash?

It's accepted everywhere.  If you lose it, that's all you lose.  If it's stolen, it's all they're going to get from you.  You may not collect points and miles, but you don't pay interest charges on it either. 

With my Visa branded debit card, which I have been using for over 10 years, I pay no interest and if it is stolen, I lose no money - a quick call to my bank and everything is taken care of. Plus, I collect points. With cash, if you lose cash, or if it's stolen, that money is gone. My dad and sister have been robbed a couple times and my dad lost a sizeable chunk of money.

So perhaps I should have said "credit cards and Visa-branded debit cards," because that's what I meant. "Bank cards" maybe.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

OK. 

Maybe it's just me, but when I go out, I hit up an ATM and go.  I've never had a card stolen or someone running up fraudulent charges, so it's not a 'I won't get bitten again' sort of thing, I just prefer to use cash.  I keep a debit card and a credit card on me, I just prefer using the paper over the plastic. 

I have friends that use nothing but their cards and ask them the same questions when they bitch about having to pay cash for things -such as parking and bars @ events.   Their answer, because cards are more convenient, my response is usually - I guess not so much right now.

[PeeJayEss]

 Their answer, because cards are more convenient, my response is usually - I guess not so much right now.

hahaha! Well played. I think the argument is for downtown parking to be more convenient by allowing the option to use cash OR credit. Not that its such a hassle to have cash, but options are more convenient than a lack of same. And actually, swiping the card is quicker/easier than getting change back, etc.

[finehoe]

You don't understand the maintenance of traffic or the traffic generated by the difference between 12 people and 72,000 people?

I think YOU don't understand that having thousands of people downtown is something that should be embraced and the city should strive to get as many of them as possible to linger, eat, shop, drink, sightsee.  Instead, it's treated as a potential disaster and people are warned away and those that do go are funnelled out of the city as quickly as possible.