Mobility Pricing

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by chowhou

Super curious, what exactly is the argument for veterans getting free parking again? I must have missed the reasoning somewhere. Seems like a pretty silly policy as far as I see it.

Also, is downtown congestion even that much of an issue? Seems like the biggest offenders for Vancouver traffic are the two North Shore bridges and the Knight Street bridge.

Trying to buy votes with taxpayer money?

I doubt all the traffic in downtown Vancouver are people from the North Shore and Richmond driving around in circles.

[stump]

So I guess those of us living south of downtown Vancouver where the shortest route is through downtown Vancouver and enjoy hiking north shore or the many trails up to Squamish need to pay even more to drive through Vancouver or spend more time/emissions going over Iron Workers? Joy.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by stump

So I guess those of us living south of downtown Vancouver where the shortest route is through downtown Vancouver and enjoy hiking north shore or the many trails up to Squamish need to pay even more to drive through Vancouver or spend more time/emissions going over Iron Workers? Joy.

And then the North Shore municipalities set their own toll for people going the other way so they can raise their funding.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Unpopular opinion: City Hall should table the idea until the UBC/Langley extensions and the North Shore/Hastings Lines are finished, then roll it out immediately. A downtown ERP is a good idea... for a much more developed city.

Originally Posted by chowhou

Super curious, what exactly is the argument for veterans getting free parking again? I must have missed the reasoning somewhere. Seems like a pretty silly policy as far as I see it.

My favourite theory is that some bean counter saw the 10,000+ figure that was the number of veterans in Vancouver, and overlooked the 200+ figure that was the number of veterans that actually qualify/apply for free parking.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Trying to buy votes with taxpayer money?

I doubt all the traffic in downtown Vancouver are people from the North Shore and Richmond driving around in circles.

What I mean to say is I don't really find the downtown core area that horrible to drive around in general, it's entering and leaving Vancouver through its choke points that sucks.

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

My favourite theory is that some bean counter saw the 10,000+ figure that was the number of veterans in Vancouver, and overlooked the 200+ figure that was the number of veterans that actually qualify/apply for free parking.

I think you misread what I wrote. Why should those 200 some odd people get special parking?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by chowhou

I think you misread what I wrote. Why should those 200 some odd people get special parking?

Because they put their lives on the line and fought during the wars.
From the news reports, it was largely for out-of-towners drive in or are driven in for the Remembrance Day ceremonies and are quite old (WWII vintage). The logic that they should walk, bike, or use transit doesn't really fly.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/rev...riving-vancouver-council-report-suggests

But the backlash has had the opposite effect on the politically-sensitive councillors, and the City has now given them year-round free parking.

Vancouver councillors have rejected a staff recommendation to cancel free on-street parking for military veterans around Remembrance Day and voted unanimously to extend the freebie year-round for at least a year.
...
Steacy said free parking wasn’t about money. “It’s a testament to their service and to pay homage to these people,” he said. “All they ask for is a little recognition.”
...

https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-council-overrules-staff-approves-free-parking-for-veterans

[libtard]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Because they put their lives on the line and fought during the wars.
From the news reports, it was largely for out-of-towners drive in or are driven in for the Remembrance Day ceremonies and are quite old (WWII vintage). The logic that they should walk, bike, or use transit doesn't really fly.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/rev...riving-vancouver-council-report-suggests

But the backlash has had the opposite effect on the politically-sensitive councillors, and the City has now given them year-round free parking.


https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-council-overrules-staff-approves-free-parking-for-veterans

He knows exactly why they were given free parking, he’s being facetious

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by MIPS

For people making that naive statement, or so the city can say the NDP are not an environmentally friendly party who have no care for keeping our cities clean? That seems kinda partisan.

No, nothing political, I just liked how you wrote it.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Because they put their lives on the line and fought during the wars.
From the news reports, it was largely for out-of-towners drive in or are driven in for the Remembrance Day ceremonies and are quite old (WWII vintage). The logic that they should walk, bike, or use transit doesn't really fly.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/rev...riving-vancouver-council-report-suggests

Pretty much. If you were at Dieppe or Juno and you're just here for the Victory Square parade, then by all means, skip the metre.

[scottN]

Originally Posted by stump

So I guess those of us living south of downtown Vancouver where the shortest route is through downtown Vancouver and enjoy hiking north shore or the many trails up to Squamish need to pay even more to drive through Vancouver or spend more time/emissions going over Iron Workers? Joy.

Probably we either a) drive through downtown early enough in the morning that we don't have to pay the congestion charge or b) take the second narrows instead.

Eitherway downtown traffic is reduced, which is the whole point of the congestion tax.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Unpopular opinion: City Hall should table the idea until the UBC/Langley extensions and the North Shore/Hastings Lines are finished, then roll it out immediately. A downtown ERP is a good idea... for a much more developed city.

Not unpopular and many of us are 100% with you. These idiots think something that works in a city like London with a fully inter-connecter transportation system can be applied here just like that. It's so ridiculous that isn't even funny.

Politics like this are more reasons why so many don't want to live in Vancouver anymore.

[Nites]

Originally Posted by chowhou

Super curious, what exactly is the argument for veterans getting free parking again? I must have missed the reasoning somewhere. Seems like a pretty silly policy as far as I see it.

Also, is downtown congestion even that much of an issue? Seems like the biggest offenders for Vancouver traffic are the two North Shore bridges and the Knight Street bridge.

Really other then Georgia being backed up because of the Lions Gate its not bad at all. One major route that does get plugged up though is Powell Street. Most people like me take it to get to the Highway.

I have a bunch of routes I take leaving downtown for Surrey depending on where I am in downtown for work.

E Cordova --> Powell --> Nanaimo --> McGill -- HWY 1

W Georgia --> Prior --> Clark --> Hastings --> HWY 1

Pacific Blvd --> Quebec --> Terminal --> E 1st --> HWY 1

Hastings --> HWY 1 (Slowest way would not recommend)

I wouldn't recommend taking W 12th --> Grandview either to get on the highway as it is a slow crawl from Renfrew all the way to the entry.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Nelson --> Cambie --> W 16th --> Oak --> HWY 99 --> HWY 91

Granville --> Park Dr --> Oak --> HWY 99 --> HWY 91

I don't know anyone who takes Knight Street bridge leaving from downtown.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Because they put their lives on the line and fought during the wars.
From the news reports, it was largely for out-of-towners drive in or are driven in for the Remembrance Day ceremonies and are quite old (WWII vintage). The logic that they should walk, bike, or use transit doesn't really fly.

Firefighters, police officers, and search and rescue all put their lifes on the line, but I'm not hearing any calls for free parking for them. If you're old and disabled, we actually already have special parking laws; Why should a 30-something who worked a radio in Kandahar be more worthly of free parking than someone who fights forest fires each summer?

Not to say I don't have respect for front line workers of any form, but I don't like the Starship Troopers mentality of military service granting a special form of citizenship.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Not unpopular and many of us are 100% with you. These idiots think something that works in a city like London with a fully inter-connecter transportation system can be applied here just like that. It's so ridiculous that isn't even funny.

Politics like this are more reasons why so many don't want to live in Vancouver anymore.

Agreed and that's why it's a non-starter. ...and during a time when businesses downtown are barely able to survive. As a Realtor, the desire to leave downtown is building quickly amongst my clients, the sales-to-active ratios ( the number of new listings selling in the first 30 days ) is typically amongst the lowest in Metro Van these days. This coupled with the huge increase in homelessness, drug and addict activity on the street and increase in crime, this proposal might be the nail-in-the-coffin for downtown. We need politicians who support and protect the vulnerable downtown economy not destroy what remains of it.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Not unpopular and many of us are 100% with you. These idiots think something that works in a city like London with a fully inter-connecter transportation system can be applied here just like that. It's so ridiculous that isn't even funny.

Politics like this are more reasons why so many don't want to live in Vancouver anymore.

Agree all day long. It's getting cartoonish, and yet now most other regional municipalities are following Vancouver's lead on several matters. It's like municipal politics are a dumping ground for the loony left because they can pretty much operate without meaningful challenge.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Agreed and that's why it's a non-starter. ...and during a time when businesses downtown are barely able to survive. As a Realtor, the desire to leave downtown is building quickly amongst my clients, the sales-to-active ratios ( the number of new listings selling in the first 30 days ) is typically amongst the lowest in Metro Van these days. This coupled with the huge increase in homelessness, drug and addict activity on the street and increase in crime, this proposal might be the nail-in-the-coffin for downtown. We need politicians who support and protect the vulnerable downtown economy not destroy what remains of it.

I don't think something potentially being discussed today as an option of many future Climate Action initiatives, which was originally planned to start in 2025, will be a "nail in downtown Vancouver's economy". The planning isn't slated to start until after 2022, if there is political will and funding assigned to it.

In fact the next election is in 2022.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Because they put their lives on the line and fought during the wars.

Actually all you need to do is complete Reserves basic training to be eligible for the plate. I'm thinking of applying for one. I really don't deserve free parking.

[WarrenC12]

Mobility pricing is dead in the water. The most reasonable pricing (new bridge tolls) was already wiped, no way something like this is coming in.

We'll see more transit and carbon taxes on gas, at a Translink & provincial level, that's about it IMO.

Let's be honest, 2019 transit was already jammed. You can't force too many more people on a Skytrain at rush hour.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Because they put their lives on the line and fought during the wars.
From the news reports, it was largely for out-of-towners drive in or are driven in for the Remembrance Day ceremonies and are quite old (WWII vintage). The logic that they should walk, bike, or use transit doesn't really fly.

For the past few years, the CoV already grants free parking during remembrance week to vets.

https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/free-parking-for-veterans-during-veterans-week.aspx

I would have to agree with city staff on this. I have no problem with a week of free parking on remembrance week, but all-year free parking has similarities to the good intentions of free parking at hospitals for COVID

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/health-care-worker...tal-parking-as-a-park-and-ride-1.4881892

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

For the past few years, the CoV already grants free parking during remembrance week to vets.

https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/free-parking-for-veterans-during-veterans-week.aspx

I would have to agree with city staff on this. I have no problem with a week of free parking on remembrance week, but all-year free parking has similarities to the good intentions of free parking at hospitals for COVID

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/health-care-worker...tal-parking-as-a-park-and-ride-1.4881892

Speaking of hospitals, note the congestion pricing puts VGH, St.Pauls and the Cancer Agency all within the paying zone bubble. A giant F-U to anyone having to undergo treatment, visit a sick loved one...