Looks like free downtown parking is finished | Page 3 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Looks like free downtown parking is finished

It wasn't even on Rob Ford's radar. Lefty councilor Wong-Tam started the ball rolling, she has a real hate-on for motorcycles.

What's up with all these Asian politicians being socialists?
What an embarrassment

The city wants to make extra money to build infrastructure, but they don't want to raise taxes. Where is the money going to come from? Parking fees. Fines. Speed traps. Permits. More bureaucracy, and more fees. And cutting services. EDIT: And brilliant ideas like mobile apps for parking...

How about better management of funds??
This reminds me of celebrities who earns millions but are still bankrupt
 
And my cell phone is a simple one, not a 'smart phone', so this "Green P App" isn't something that I'll be able to use. I don't want a smart phone. I don't want a phone that can barely hold a charge for a day.

Let me guess you are still one of those living in the past with rabbit ears for your TV reception. Its guys like you why we still have the CBC on our airwaves :).
 
I had a feeling this free motorcycle parking was too good to be true.

Work D/T but i'm lucky enough to have a spot at work i don't need to park on the streets. I do take advantage of the free parking for lunch runs.

I only hope that they at least give us a price break as we take up so little real estate. Saying that, i guess owners of smart cars and similar egg shaped vehicle's will argue the same if we get a different rate.
 
Let me guess you are still one of those living in the past with rabbit ears for your TV reception. Its guys like you why we still have the CBC on our airwaves :).

Hardly. I prefer to own devices that do what they do very well, instead of half-assed. I use notebook computers and desktops. My cameras are cameras. My home entertainment system is a purpose built computer. And, as I said, I prefer a phone that actually still had a charge if I just throw it in my pocket for the better part of a week. I also don't spend 12 hours a day walking into people while I absent mindedly stare into a smartphone, as I wander around town in narcissistic and anti social fashion.
 
So glad, I don't live or work in Toronto (and never will). What a load of non-sense and creative way of inconveniencing people every single day. Can't do public transit properly, can't do public parking parking properly, nor road maintenance ... is there anything transit related the great city of Toronto can do???
 
So glad, I don't live or work in Toronto (and never will). What a load of non-sense and creative way of inconveniencing people every single day. Can't do public transit properly, can't do public parking parking properly, nor road maintenance ... is there anything transit related the great city of Toronto can do???

They preserve the lakefront from transit (lol)
 
You and others should try file a free claim at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and say it's discrimination against socioeconomic status.
This seems wrong that you HAVE to have a cellphone to pay for parking on PUBLIC streets.

worth a shot, cost you nothing

This is a good point. I do not know if I can do that, but you are right, it is worth to read up...
 
^I dont think that is what theyre proposing. The meters take cash and credit cards now, theyre just modifying those so that the payment is applied to a plate, be it from a car or a bike.

Thats how I read the situation anyways. The City is modifying the meter system to avoid people passing unused slips on to others. And by doing that it is enabling them to charge bikes for parking alongside as pay by plate cures the problem of the slip being stolen or blowing away that resulted in the free parking to begin with.
 
And if that is the case, not only will this hurt car drivers because there will be fewer bikes commuting (and more cars, causing more congestion), but motorists who may have benefited from receiving a slip FOR A PARKING SPOT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR, wont receive that benefit anymore. The City will be double collecting on tons of spots.

This new idea hurts everyone except city revenues. Next step is toll roads when they say we have too much congestion. Thatll cure the parking problem. Im going to zip line to work!
 
^I dont think that is what theyre proposing. The meters take cash and credit cards now, theyre just modifying those so that the payment is applied to a plate, be it from a car or a bike.

Thats how I read the situation anyways. The City is modifying the meter system to avoid people passing unused slips on to others. And by doing that it is enabling them to charge bikes for parking alongside as pay by plate cures the problem of the slip being stolen or blowing away that resulted in the free parking to begin with.
But if you get a ticket from a cop for whatever reason, how will you know? Wont there be the same possible "blowing away or stolen" problem? Although there wouldnt be as much incentive to steal it lol
 
But if you get a ticket from a cop for whatever reason, how will you know? Wont there be the same possible "blowing away or stolen" problem? Although there wouldnt be as much incentive to steal it lol

With the new system... The rational step before issuing a ticket would be for the officer to access the system first, and enter the plate in question. That way the officer could tell if the vehicle paid for parking or not, even if the paper blew away.

All what we need then is to give an iPad to each officer, with a different mobile app to gain access the system. And give each officer an Starbucks vanilla latte, too, so they look the part as they walk around with their iPad.

Obviously I don't know, I am just trying to make fun of them.
 
It wasn't even on Rob Ford's radar. Lefty councilor Wong

Actually, it was started by Mike Del Grande, who was Rob Ford's Budget chief at the time. It was seconded by Councillor Wong-Tam, so I guess that makes it an ultra-left/ultra-right conspiracy. Or maybe just a temporary marriage of convenience.

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/mm/bgrd/backgroundfile-42550.pdf

I've had no response from City TV. I guess they don't like it when people point out their failure to check out a few basic facts before they report something. If anyone have any connections with someone at City TV, please PM me. Hopefully we can get this to someone who actually is prepared to take some responsibility for their reporting.

I've also left a message with the City Manager's office. We'll see if I get a response, but considering the City Manager just announced that he will delay his retirement until after the first budget under John Tory, he probably see's himself as half way out the door and only sticking around to deal with the things he absolutely has to.
 
As we better understand the proposed system, another way to attack this change is not to make it about bikes, or congestion, its simply to examine what they're really doing: modifying meters to prevent people from passing on their slip and double charging for spots.

Does that make sense? How many more meter maids will they need if they have to input each plate to check? How many fewer tickets will they issue if they dont beef up their flock of maids? How much of an issue is passing slips on anyways?
 
As we better understand the proposed system, another way to attack this change is not to make it about bikes, or congestion, its simply to examine what they're really doing: modifying meters to prevent people from passing on their slip and double charging for spots.

Does that make sense? How many more meter maids will they need if they have to input each plate to check? How many fewer tickets will they issue if they dont beef up their flock of maids? How much of an issue is passing slips on anyways?
Plates can be scanned automatically while driving by and checked against the database of payments. It will be easier to monitor at less cost, which will also contribute to increase revenue. That's the real motivation for the change.

They can decide to make motorcycle parking free or it can be payable within that enforcement framework, it's an entirely separate consideration.
 
They can't drive by and scan bike plates when they are parked with the back facing the sidewalk. So the "Hornets" will have to get out and walk.
 
I don't think having to pay for parking will deter most riders from riding in. We deal with all the **** that's thrown at us because we love riding. We will have to pay for parking anyways if we drive in so why not take the bike?

A big problem will be that we won't be able to park for a work day on the street. I am not sure, but I don't think street meters allow parking for 8hrs during the day.

Oh well we can just ride around gates in private lots :)
 
I don't think having to pay for parking will deter most riders from riding in. We deal with all the **** that's thrown at us because we love riding. We will have to pay for parking anyways if we drive in so why not take the bike?

A big problem will be that we won't be able to park for a work day on the street. I am not sure, but I don't think street meters allow parking for 8hrs during the day.

Oh well we can just ride around gates in private lots :)

+1

Losing free parking sure sucks, but no one I know will quit riding now that they have to pay for parking.

I just hope that they adjust the prices for motorcycles and not charge the same as cars, otherwise I will be parking parallel to the curb.
 
A big problem will be that we won't be able to park for a work day on the street. I am not sure, but I don't think street meters allow parking for 8hrs during the day.

THIS. I ride my scooter to work daily and my bike outside of work/weekends. I don't mind paying a couple of bucks on the weekends but I won't be paying for a full day's worth of parking for my (barely) 10 minute commute.

I'm gonna sell the scooter next spring and may join the annoying mob of cyclists.
 
Actually, it was started by Mike Del Grande, who was Rob Ford's Budget chief at the time. It was seconded by Councillor Wong-Tam, so I guess that makes it an ultra-left/ultra-right conspiracy. Or maybe just a temporary marriage of convenience.

Forgot about Del Grande, the motorcycle-hate interview with Wong-Tam is what stuck in my mind.
 

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