Owners of the tiny Smart Fortwo can fit their cars in half a parking space.  Now, in New York City, they can pay for half a space, too.

Gadgetell reports, "Smart has worked a deal for their diminutive Smart Fortwo with specific parking garages in the Big Apple getting them much cheaper rates.  And it is not out-of-the-way parking garages either.  The list includes Madison Square Garden, Javits Center, Times Square and Upper East Side; all places you want to be."  Smart Fortwos can now park in garages operated by Meyers Parking for half price daily or monthly rates.

"Decreased parking supply and urban congestion represent a continuing problem in New York, and we can't think of a better company to partner with than smart USA to help combat these issues," said Mike Carolan, Director of Operations for Meyers Parking said in a press release.  "We are excited to offer smart owners a discount, as it seems only appropriate that smart owners pay half price since they only take up half the space."

TechnoRide notes, however, that the deal only runs through Dec 31, 2008.

The offer illustrates the unique status of the Smart car.  It isn't clear how regulators in American cities will react to some of the tiny two-seater's capabilities.  Autoblog notes, "In Europe, it's common to see several smart cars sharing a single parallel parking space, with their diminutive front bumpers against the curb and the rear facing traffic."  While that trick has been heavily advertised by Smart in its U.S. sales, it isn't clear that it's legal in many cities.

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