The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is asking downtown business owners, employees and customers for feedback on the city's downtown parking meters in a new survey.
The survey isn't scientific, but Bloomington Chamber of Commerce President Jeb Conrad says he hopes it will yield some telling data.
"Impacts of the transition with meters, the transition with new parking rules for parking garages, and those kinds of things because we have a lot of members that those are either in front or near their retail locations," said Conrad.
Lyle Feigenbaum is the owner of the Scholar's Inn Bakehouse on the downtown square. He says the parking meters have had an adverse effect on his business.
"We rely on the residents of Bloomington to come downtown before work, to have breakfast, whatever it may be, grab a cup of coffee, but the meters are a hassle," said Feigenbaum.
Feigenbaum says he understands why meters are necessary at night when parking spots are harder to come by. But because his business comes mostly from breakfast and lunch crowds when parking isn't as much of an issue, he says the meters are only a deterrent for his customers.
Conrad and Feigenbaum both say the city has been supportive of the survey and plans to consider recommendations based on the final data.
3,500 people have completed the survey, which wraps up at the end of next week.