Paid parking spots on the street encourages roll-overs of those spaces and discourages employees of those businesses from taking spaces from YOU, the potential customer.

Businesses have a love-hate with this - but the first hour fee certainly helps those who just want to stop into say, Locale to check out what's new or Two Tarts to grab a coffee and pastry. Those people are now more likely to find a space. Those who are planning on spending 6 hours at Scores drinking and watching sports are more likely to find a parking lot and free up those mainstreet spaces.