Downtown Visitor Mobility and Parking Guide
Do you ever wonder if there's another way to visit downtown? This is your Downtown Visitor's Mobility and Parking Guide. It'll help you discover the many options you have to fit your budget and activity.
Use this Downtown Visitor's Mobility and Parking Guide as your menu for transportation options. Learn how you can save money and reduce stress of heavy traffic!
Need downtown commuter information instead? Visit the Downtown Commuter Resource Guide.
DASH Bus Service
The Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) is a FREE bus service downtown. If you are a worker or visitor hop on board for a convenient way to travel throughout the Downtown Grand Rapids. Park Once and DASH around town! Save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and explore downtown.
Hours of Operation
Each of our DASH Bus operates from 6:30 am - 10:00 pm during the week (Monday through Friday).
DASH North
- Every 7- 8 minutes
- Monday through Friday
- 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM
DASH West
- Every 8 minutes
- Monday through Friday 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM*
- *Downtown Market Loop (6:30 AM - 8:30 PM)
- *Commerce Loop (8:30 PM - 10:00 PM)
Silver Line
- Monday through Friday
- Rush Hour - Every 10 minutes
- Midday - Every 20 minutes
- Evenings - Every 30 minutes
- Weekends - Every 30 minutes
We paid your Silverline fare for you in the downtown area! Visit The Rapid's Silver Line webpage to learn more. Keep in mind, the Silver Line route is only fare free if you are riding the bus north of Wealthy Street.
How to Use the Dash
We have signs for our DASH bus stops by the curb. Stand near the bus stop and wait for the DASH to arrive. They run every 8 minutes. Then pull the cord as the bus approaches your destination stop. This signals the driver to stop.
Real-Time Schedules
Download one of the mobile apps:
- myStop app tracks your bus, finds nearby stops, include trip planner (Google Play and the App Store)
- Transit app provides departure times, bus tracking, trip planning, and reminders (Google Play and the App Store)
Ride the Rapid
Avoid the hassle finding parking and the cost of paying for it. The Rapid provides public transportation.
Cost and Tickets
The Rapid offers adult single rides for $1.75 and monthly passes for $47. Tickets can be purchased on board with cash. Or you can purchase them ahead of time at retail outlets like Meijer.
Service Locations
Get on board! Check out their routes and schedules on their website at RidetheRapid.org.
Real-Time Schedules
Download one of the mobile apps:
- myStop app tracks your bus, finds nearby stops, include trip planner (Google Play and the App Store)
- Transit app provides departure times, bus tracking, trip planning, and reminders (Google Play and the App Store)
Hours of Operation
The hours vary significantly depending on the route, day, and time. All buses operate Monday-Saturday and during peak travels times. Explore RidetheRapid.org for specific routes and travel information.
How to Ride
Check out these Rider Resources for more information on how to ride, put a bike on a bus, and more.
Carpool, Bike, or Walk
Life's a little more fun and affordable with someone to travel with.
Carpool
Share the costs of parking by sharing a ride to downtown instead. Check out the State of Michigan's Interactive Map of Carpool Lots.
Bike
Riding bicycles alone or in groups is a fun way to get downtown. Check out Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition's 2017-2018 Bike Map:
Walk
Walking downtown is a great alternative to driving on a busy night! Google Maps can help you find the quickest route.
Moped Parking
Free moped parking is available inside our Pearl Ionia ramp and at our Ottawa Fulton Surface Lot. Don't lock your moped to trees, lamp posts, or benches. This can block access to people walking or trying to get around.
Park and Ride the Rapid
If you are coming from out of town, you can save money by parking and taking The Rapid. You'll save at least $0.50 per mile for the distance you travel when you use a mobility option other than your own car.
Check out the Park and Ride lots in the area:
Parking Lots and Ramps
Parking Locations
We offer parking throughout downtown Grand Rapids. Take a look at our Interactive Visitor Parking Map to review locations. Or download our Parking Facility Map and Parking Facility Rates(PDF, 38KB).
Hours of Operation
Our parking locations and customer assistance center are open 24/7.
Customer Assistance Services
Our friendly Parking Services Officers are here to help! We include the below services with your monthly parking permit. So if you're in one of our downtown ramps and lots, we'll help you with:
- Changing flat tires
- Jump starting your vehicle
- Getting access to your keys when you're locked out
- Getting you to your vehicle parked in one of our facilities
- Troubleshooting parking machine issues
- Filling your empty tank up to 5 gallons (you pay for the fuel)
Cost
Prices can vary depending on the day, the location, and what events may be in town. When visiting downtown for a large event like a concert, expect to pay the Special Event rate. For a quick visit, review the minimum price rates. Take a look at our Interactive Parking Facilities Map to review pricing. Or download our Parking Facility Map and Parking Facility Rates(PDF, 38KB).
Paying for Parking
To pay, we take cash, and debit or credit cards (MasterCard, Discover, Visa, and American Express). For special events, you'll pay upon entry at most parking locations. When visiting our parking areas on a regular day, most ramps are pay upon exit and most lots are pay upon entry.
Disability Parking
We offer disabled parking in all of our ramps and lots. These spaces are clearly marked in our parking locations. In most ramps, you can find disabled spaces on the first level or near elevators/stairwells. For the Government Center Ramp, use the south entrance on Monroe Ave (furthest from Michigan St). If you have the yellow free parking sticker, press the help button to tell our staff.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
We offer electric vehicle charging stations in four of our ramps. You'll pay the same as other users to park and pay the meter at the charging station to pay for the charging cost.
Street Parking
Look for any parking related signage and follow their directions, ex. Meters, No Parking sign or Loading Zone sign. We don't want you to get a ticket. Follow these rules to help keep people safe from harm, park:
- 3 feet from a driveway
- 15 feet from fire hydrants
- 15 feet from or within intersections
- 20 feet from marked Crosswalk
- 20 feet from railroad tracks
- 30 feet from a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic signal
Parking Meter Locations
Use our Parking Meter Map. Find costs, enforcement hours, and parking time limits for each meter.
Hours of Operation
We check meters from 8 am until 5 or 6 pm, Monday through Friday. We have posted signs on meters that we check after 6pm or on Saturdays. You’ll find most of these along Monroe Center.
Cost
You’ll pay $1 to $1.75 for each hour you park. Check the hourly cost on the meter, pay station or ParkMobile App.
Paying for Parking
Cash
You can always pay with cash at the meter or pay station. Pay stations accept debit or credit cards too.
Online
Don’t have cash? Get ParkMobile (Google Play and the App Store). See the benefits with this 2 minute intro clip!
- Look for the Parkmobile sign or sticker
- Once registered, use the Parkmobile app to enter in the zone number listed on the sign to start a parking session
- That’s it! And just to make life easier, you can opt-in to receive a notification 15 minutes before your parking session is set to expire
Phone
Have a flip phone? You can pay by calling ParkMobile at 1-800-280-4146.
- Look for the Parkmobile sign or sticker
- Once registered, call to enter in the zone number listed on the sign to start a parking session
- That’s it! And just to make life easier, you can opt-in to receive a notification 15 minutes before your parking session is set to expired
Disabled Parking
Use our Parking Meter Map to locate disabled parking meters. You can use these if you have a disability plate or placard. Parking is free when you have the State of Michigan disability placard with a yellow free parking sticker.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
We offer electric vehicle charging stations on Ottawa Ave in front of City Hall. These are metered spaces.
Holidays Observed
We don't enforce meters on holidays we observe, including:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther Kind Jr. Day
- Presidents' Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans' Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day after Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Useful Apps
GR Park App
Find parking stress-free! The GR Park App provides real-time availability for City parking facilities and shows locations nearest to you first. Available on iOS & Android.
Motu App
The Motu app allows you to pay for metered parking using your mobile phone. Plus, you'll get a notification when your meter is about to expire. You even have the option to add time to your meter -- right from your phone!
Download on iPhone Download on Android Use Motu on the Web
myStop Mobile App
The myStop Mobile app provides real-time bus schedule and location information. Available on iOS & Android.