Parking Attendants

One of the challenges of driving in Quito - parking

Parking (along with driving) in Quito is often a challenge. I just read an article that in 2000 there were 200,000 cars on the road in Quito, and now there are 500,000.  (*Sarcasm* - you can bet there are now 2.5 times more parking places now as compared to in 2000.) 

Many people find employment by being a parking attendant.

Employed by Store Owner

Sometimes (I believe) they are employed by the store owners to help keep traffic flowing in the store's parking lot.

Employed by SuperMaxi
Grocery Store
(I think)

Employed by La Esquina
Small Shopping Center

Employed by La Esquina
Just up the hill from the other guy.

Self Employed

Other times a parking attendant just takes up residence along a street, and "helps" you get your car parked, tells you if it might get towed, and supposedly watches (protects?) it while you are shopping, etc.

Self employed along the street
outside of USFQ

Employed by Government

In Quito there are no parking meters, but there are streets where you must pay in order to park. There is a special marking on the street that indicates one of these areas. So how do you pay?  There is a parking attendant that walks the stretch of street. He or she has a uniform of sorts so that they can be identified. After you park, you find the attendant, pay your fare, collect a receipt, then place the receipt in your window to prove you have paid.

Don't forget the tip

No matter what, you have to pay the parking attendant a tip for the "help".