Less Free Mardi Gras Parking And More Walking

No parking signs sprout like weeds on this part of the Water Street median--and the north side of the Convention Center--two spots that used to be prime real estate for early birds who want free Mardi Gras parking.  While some think this is a money-grab by the city, Mobile police say they re-evaluate their carnival plans yearly and they decided parking on these spots is unsafe.

Instead you could park at the cruise terminal for a price--it's also a longer walk.  With my trusty iPod pedometer in hand I walked from the cruise terminal--took a right on royal street and stopped at the nearest section of the parade route at royal and church streets--walking 438 steps--about two and a half blocks.  I tried the same thing starting from the Water Street median --it only cost me 150 steps--about one block.  This is a change not a lot of people are happy with.

“I think that it's terrible I think that it's going to be so congested and parking, cause I usually park in the parking deck over here now it's going to be even tougher to get in and out of that place,” says Eddie Siefert. 

The additional public parking should more than offset the now off-limits parking spots.  However, it’s not free to park at the cruise terminal or the CSX building site.  It’ll be $10 on most days but $15 on Joe Cain Day and Fat Tuesday.