By 
TULSA, Okla.
— As Oklahoma City’s downtown skyline rises, a car has become a fixture of the cityscape.
But if you’re looking for a cheap, quick trip to a local watering hole, you may want to consider another option.
The city’s parking garage, at 710 W. 7th Ave., is a popular spot for many people who want to use the space.
“You can get there at 10:30 or 10:45, depending on the week,” said Kristin Stinson, a business owner.
But if you want a quick fix, it’s more likely to be at 9:30 a.m. for the parking garage or 9:00 a.k.a. 3:00 p.m., depending on when the service was last offered.
“There are plenty of options,” said Stinson.
“I usually take a taxi or a limo and go to a nearby mall.
That’s my preferred way of getting there.
I’ve also had friends that I’ve had carpools with.”
A trip to the garage for a rental is cheaper than a car, but it also can be slower and more inconvenient.
“I’ve had to wait longer than an hour, maybe a half hour, if I want to come back to the car,” said Jennifer McBride, a student.
But McBride said that when she does have to park, it doesn’t come cheap.
“My friend who lives in Oklahoma City, he doesn’t have the money to go,” said McBride.
McBride said she takes the bus and takes a ride to the parking lot and then to the mall.
“If I get to the office and I have to get out of the car, I’m in a bad way, because I can’t pay,” she said.
If you’re not sure if a rental car is the best option, ask.
“There are a lot of options in Tulsa,” said Scott Davis, a former police officer.
Davis said he drives a rental from Tulsa to his home in Texas.
“It can be really expensive,” he said.
“It’s a good way to go, but I’m not sure how it’s going to be used.”
But for people like McBride who need to park in a pinch, the car rental service is better than the traditional route.
“The car rental is better for me because I don’t need to walk from my house,” said Davis.
“What I’m trying to do is get to work, and that’s a lot faster than driving,” said Lisa Hines, who lives at home in Oklahoma.
“And if I can get the car to work and get there, that would be great.”
Hines has her own rental car and said she has no problem taking it to the airport, a place she loves.
“They’re easy to get in and out of and not have to wait long, and it’s nice to get there on time,” she told CBS affiliate KFOR.
The Oklahoma City Police Department and the Tulsa Parking Authority have no comment.