Axios Richmond
September 25, 2026
1 big thing: 🅿️ Decoding Richmond parking
👋 Karri here, stepping up to help you navigate Richmond's ever-changing parking rules and steer clear of another ticket, boot or tow.
Why it matters: The city recently ramped up enforcement of some long-standing parking rules, created new ones and is considering changing others.
State of play: Richmond manages more than 8,000 street parking spaces — including more than 2,600 paid spaces — and its parking map includes at least 23 categories of restrictions, per an Axios review.
- Some parts of town have weekly no-parking zones for regular street cleaning while others have seasonal restrictions.
- Plus: Five neighborhoods have restricted residential parking districts with their own rules.
Meanwhile: Richmond has been cracking down on parking in bike-lane buffers and near crosswalks and stop signs, while enforcing time limits in Scott's Addition for the first time since 2020
Zoom in: If you're confused, you're not alone.
Case in point: On this Cary Street block in the Fan, parking is banned from 11am–1pm on Thursdays, limited to two hours on one side, 15 minutes on the other.
- At the end of the block, parking appears to be allowed only overnight — specifically from 12:01-7:49am.
Got all that? It's not even the most confusing block we found.
Downtown on East Franklin, one pole marks a snow-emergency route, bans parking from 7–9am, allows three-hour parking after that and marks a tow-away zone in the other direction.
- If you can park there, best download one of two parking apps the city uses — and mind the lines: it's also a floating parking/bike-lane block.
Just around the corner, a sign stack on 2nd Street tells drivers to pay at a kiosk, while a newer placard on the same pole tells them to use an app or text-to-pay option.
The bottom line: Richmond's parking rules usually make sense — eventually. The trick is figuring out which rule applies to you on that day, curb or situation — before the tow truck or meter maid does.
- Crack that, and consider yourself officially a Richmonder.
Keep reading ... and send us your parking head-scratchers. Just hit reply.
2. 🚍 Richmond's transit tumble
If you want to skip the parking and just take a ride ... Richmond's public transit ranking took a tumble in a new ConsumerAffairs ranking.
Why it matters: It seems Richmond's free buses aren't enough to put the region among the nation's transit elite anymore.
State of play: Richmond fell to No. 26 in ConsumerAffairs' latest ranking of public transportation systems in the nation's 50 largest urban areas.
- In 2024, the last time ConsumerAffairs published the ranking, Richmond was No. 4.
Yes, but: ConsumerAffairs used a different methodology for this year's report, so the two rankings aren't a perfect comparison.
By the numbers: Richmond still shines on affordability, ranking No. 3 in the nation, thanks in large part to GRTC's zero-fare buses.
- But it ranked just 35th for usefulness and accessibility — and 43rd for operational safety.
The bottom line: Richmond transit may have dropped in these rankings, but it's still above nearly half the pack.
- And our rides are completely free.
3. 🌊 The Current: Shoosmith owners indicted
4. 🥒 What's new at the State Fair
The State Fair of Virginia returns today with its freakishly large vegetables, adorable baby animals and even more deep-fried things.
Why it matters: The 10-day Richmond-adjacent tradition is back, with a bunch of new attractions this year — including a deep-fried pickle corn dog.
- Yes, you read that right: a hot dog, wrapped in a pickle, wrapped in the corn part of the corn dog and deep-fried.
State of play: Here's what else is new — and not to miss — at this year's state fair.
- 🌭 New fair food includes Korean-style corn dogs, smashburgers, fire-wok noodles, handcrafted donuts, and the aforementioned deep-fried pickle corn dogs (find it at Twisted Pickles).
- 🎢 The midway has a $15 Fast Lane add-on that lets riders bypass the regular line.
- 🤸 Check out new shows like Flippenout, an acrobatic trampoline show, or the wonderfully ridiculous Rubber Chicken Show, featuring "poultry-themed humor."
If you go: The state fair runs through Oct. 4 at The Meadow Event Park.
- Adult tickets start at $15, $32 with a ride wristband.
5. 💨 Stoner subs hit Midlothian
Virginia's first Cheba Hut location opens today in Midlothian, bringing the Colorado-based chain's full stoner shtick to RVA.
Why it matters: The marijuana-themed sandwich joint is known for toasted subs like White Widow and Kali Mist that are "alright, alright, alright."
State of play: The new restaurant opens at 10am at 1124 Steam Ave. near Chesterfield mall, complete with bar, patio and a Virginia-themed mural.
On the menu: More than 30 toasted subs, available in three sizes: nug, pinner and blunt (around $6.99 for a nug, $15 for a blunt).
- Plus, salads, munchies and, of course, cookies and brownies for dessert.
- The 12-tap bar features local beer and cocktails like Gin N' Juice, Bong Water and Ms. Parker (iykyk).
If you go: Today's opening starts at 10am with giveaways, a drone show at dusk and a $420 cash drop at — naturally — 4:20pm.
What's next: Midlo won't be Cheba Hut's only Virginia "joint": A Colonial Heights location is planned for early 2027.
Puff, puff pass this story to a friend
Axios Richmond
Get smarter, faster on what matters in Richmond with Sabrina Moreno and Karri Peifer.