Will drivers take revenge on Vision Vancouver for parking-meter hikes?
In an election year, Mayor Gregor Robertson and his Vision Vancouver colleagues have probably locked up most of the commuter cyclists' votes.
But incumbent councillors could be vulnerable with those voters who spend a lot of time driving around the city. And it's not just because of the creation of separate cycling lanes along Dunsmuir and Hornby streets, and on the Burrard Bridge.
This weekend, I analyzed how the City of Vancouver has jacked up revenue from parking meters under Vision Vancouver.
By my estimate, revenue from meters will increase 35 percent this year over the figure in the 2008 civic budget—before Vision Vancouver was elected.
In 2008, the city forecast $27.8 million from parking meters. By 2010, that had risen to more than $36 million, thanks to the Vision council extending the requirement to pay parking meters until 10 p.m.
Last December, staff reported that there will be another $1.5 million increase this year. This will come from rate hikes in various areas of the city and the addition of parking meters in other areas.
"Introducing parking meters into a new area will help to open up parking spaces, improve customer access and reduce traffic congestion caused by drivers circling the block looking for a space," staff stated in a report to council last year.
The city has gotten quite sophisticated at maximizing parking-meter revenue. According to the report, there's a "target occupancy" of 85 percent. Prices for meters are set to guarantee at least one or two available parking spots on a block throughout the day.
This is why rates were hiked by 50 percent in Chinatown, with smaller fees increases applied to parking meters in Yaletown, Kitsilano, Fairview, Coal Harbour Quay, and along West Broadway.
Rates were actually reduced along underutilized parts of Nelson, Richards, Seymour, and Homer streets, as well as along Bayshore Drive and in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of West Hastings.
The cyclists won't care, but it's the type of fee that irritates drivers every time they stop for a cup of coffee or a haircut or any other such service.
A right-wing demogogue could easily exploit this, especially when this 35 percent increase is contrasted with only a 15 percent increase in the entire city budget over the same period that Vision Vancouver has been in office.
Comments
38 Comments
Ken Lawson
May 22, 2011 at 3:27pm
Not just for parking meter rate hikes but for have no parking meters for Bikers, look out for the Motorist & Pedestrian Lobby it is coming to your area of the city soon, it will wipe out the bicycle lobby in City Hall.
Rob Baxter
May 22, 2011 at 7:09pm
Motorists are highly subsidized in the lower mainland ($6.6 billion according to the Ministry of Transportation). And parking is one of the highest subsidies.
So, informed taxpayers should welcome the news that motorists are paying more of their fare share.
Unfortunately I am not sure how well-informed most taxpayers are. And articles like this, which fail to mention the subsidy, aren't very helpful.
So, yes, it may be a liability for Vision.
MarkBowen
May 22, 2011 at 7:12pm
Hopefully they recognize this and can find a way to appease drivers before the election. Vision has done so much to move Vancouver towards being a truly world class, livable city. It would be an awful shame to see us elect a short sighted populist like Rob Ford and start taking steps backwards.
We are on the right track to making this city a better place for our children to live in then it was for us. I hope we can stay on that track and keep an eye on the bigger picture.
prenup
May 22, 2011 at 7:42pm
what gets me is I have heard the city say multiple times that the purpose of the meter is to keep cars moving so retail stores downtown benefit from new people coming and going rather then people just leaving their car all day....what retail store is open till 10pm?
its just another tax.
Im all for people riding bikes, but its a choice and either way there should be tax revenue from it. Bikers should be required to pay insurance and a license fee. You cant go on the arguement everyone should bike, because the economy would come to stand still if that happened.\
Tessa
May 22, 2011 at 7:49pm
Why are these sorts of stories always framed from the political perspective? Why don't you actually ask the question: is this good policy? That ought to be what matters most. As it is, this article doesn't inform anyone at all, really.
Taxpayers R Us
May 22, 2011 at 8:39pm
Glad you brought this up Charlie.
Weren't the hikes sold as a temporary measure to offset the lost parking revenue during the Olympics? They ended over a year ago and the rates are still $4.00 per hour until 10pm!
Vanessa Griffiths
May 22, 2011 at 8:57pm
I don't think you really get it do you? Cars are bad, in so many ways. By charging up the ying yang it stops people from driving. period. Instead it get's you walking (remember exercise), taking transit, or using those bike lanes you seem to loathe so much. In return we have less noise, less angry people, more healthy people, and better air to breath.
James G
May 22, 2011 at 10:34pm
It's the Green-Vision alliance that doesn't get it. Merely adding cost as the disincentive to driving a private vehicle makes owning and using one increasingly the perk of the wealthy. With the costs of fuel and insurance already substantial, the only people not getting into their cars are working class people. Some of us require them work, to access remote locations or just because not everyone is fit enough to leap on a bicycle. Vision Vancouver is strictly for the elite.
Reality Check
May 23, 2011 at 12:24am
@James G
Read the article. It is about parking metre rates. Unless you only work two hours, the parking metres are useless for work. Anywhere in Vancouver with a parking metre is hardly a remote location. There is always transit and electric mobility devices if you can't use a bike. There are also electric assisted bikes.
Anyway, there is still tons of parking and road space in the city for cars for people who must use them. Please stop overacting.
By the way, not everyone can afford a car so they are obviously already for the elite.
Birdy
May 23, 2011 at 12:38am
To those who think bikes should be licensed:
I understand you hate Gregor & Vision, but let's try to be sensible here. Don't become what you hate in an attempt to "get them back." Don't become a control freak because you hate control freaks.
The majority of Canadians are sick and tired of anti-everything commies trying to baby-proof society. Luckily, support for progressives is dropping faster than the GDP of a Marxist country. The time is ripe for an injection of freedom of choice into this preschool of a city. So please, people on the Right, don't fuck this up (like you always do) by demanding further government intrusion into people's lives.