Motorcycle Parking Fee 2015 – Response Coordination Thread | Page 6 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Motorcycle Parking Fee 2015 – Response Coordination Thread

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kiwi said:
Bit confused, was the first "25%" a typo?





My understanding is that the cars ARE allowed to park in the dedicated spaces. There are no rules to the effect that they are not allowed to . They can pay and display. Usually the Simcoe street bays are full with bikes, but one or two cars get there early and park there. Often the cars are one with handicap permits, so they are there all day



totally worth it if you have nothing to hide and play by the rules - and travel a lot. If you've ever been through LAX (which often is the case when travelling down under) just being able to be expedited through customs/arrivals after a 15hr flight from AUS/NZ is good enough reason ;-)
Oh, and as if the NSA and CICIS dont have enough goods on people from their Online Social media profiles, cell phone/wifi/Bluetooth roaming/tracking. lol. The digital footprint is out there. ;-) ;-)
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No, according to Mark, they seem to have settled on 25%, where the 2013 report referred to either 25% or 50%. At that time, they never committed.

Cars are "legally" allowed to park in the dedicated spaces because they never passed a by-law, which would allow them to enforce it. I guess they assumed drivers wouldn't catch on, but as Rob said somewhere earlier, it is not a fair test if the rules can't be enforced.

Just hope you don't stay in a hotel room that becomes a crime scene after your stay. After all the stories of wrong people on no-fly lists, etc, I really don't want to count on the Americans getting it right or giving me the benefit of the doubt. Yes, you can't hide under a rock, but no I don't want to just hand it to them either. That's like letting an insurance company put a tracker in your car. Sorry, you were 5 kph over the limit at the time of the accident. You are now partly at fault. That will be an extra $1,000 on your premium please!
 
there needs to be an argument put forth that the true cost of implementing motorcycle parking fees is not only the cost to install equipment and run the program. it is likely that some will not pay and will choose alternate forms of transportation to get to work. They will most likely either take TTC or drive to work. What is the true cost of increasing congestion on the TTC and on the roadways?

Increased congestion = more idling = more greenhouse gases/smog - what is the environmental impact?
Increased congestion = further degradation in TTC service
Increased congestion = reduced productivity - do we really want to start seeing avg commute times of 2 hrs?

How much would it cost the city to improve the TTC service, improve the roadways to compensate?

The long term issue is still present. The city has no transportation infrastructure plan. Commute times are getting worse in this city regardless of whether you drive or TTC. The decision to charge for MC parking does not reduce congestion and is not even neutral on congestion. This decision will increase congestion to gain only a few $$ (I read $125k to $250k revenue and about $30k to operate).

Promote MC/Scooters. Registrations/licensing fees alone will offset this measly revenue gain (every 1000 bikes = about $50k). If car drivers think it is unfair, tell them to go buy a bike.
 
Face said:
No, according to Mark, they seem to have settled on 25%, where the 2013 report referred to either 25% or 50%. At that time, they never committed.
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Ah, ok. fair rate I guess.

Face said:
Cars are "legally" allowed to park in the dedicated spaces because they never passed a by-law, which would allow them to enforce it. I guess they assumed drivers wouldn't catch on, but as Rob said somewhere earlier, it is not a fair test if the rules can't be enforced.
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We'll need to point that out to the survey people. I somehow think they the submissions and feedback I sent in are falling on deaf ears, and they have their own adjenda.

Face said:
Just hope you don't stay in a hotel room that becomes a crime scene after your stay. After all the stories of wrong people on no-fly lists, etc, I really don't want to count on the Americans getting it right or giving me the benefit of the doubt. Yes, you can't hide under a rock, but no I don't want to just hand it to them either. That's like letting an insurance company put a tracker in your car. Sorry, you were 5 kph over the limit at the time of the accident. You are now partly at fault. That will be an extra $1,000 on your premium please!
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Not sure what that's in reference to a NEXUS card? Which really is like a passport, which I dont carry with me all the time. In fact all the latest passports have inbuilt RFID chips in them as well. The NEXUS card does require a retina scan when you are interviewed, but also means each time I pass through the border I have been previously scrutinized to a high enough degree to warrant only 2 questions: "Where are you going?,how long are you staying?"
Previously before I got my Canadian password I was subjected to finger print/retina scan everytime I came through the border along with multiple of questions designed to stress test you. Anyone who has travelled through US Boarder Ports on non US/Canadian passports would have similar stories. (Especially LAX - which appears on many worst airport lists)
Its easier for the "big brothers" to track your cellphone/online profiles etc. Things like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and GTAM forums ;-) leave a better digital trail.

Anyway, back to the thread topic, I really dont think there will be enough parking for the bikes downtime. Simcoe fills up easily by 8:20am :-(
 
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FYI Only guys:
they just added a yellow motorcycle parking section outside Toronto police headquarters on Grenville so it looks like they're getting serious about it…
 
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marktwothousand said:
FUI Only guys:
They just added a yellow motorcycle parking section outside Toronto police headquarters on Grenville so it looks like you're getting serious about it…
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thanks Mark, thats on the list that Face linked. Part of the 30 so far spots.
 
Please use the below email to address to pass on your concerns of this program. I have sent them several tidbits of information and questions/feedback.

Public input and comments are welcome and will be considered as part of our pilot study. If you have an opinion or suggestion related to this pilot and would like to share it with us, please email:OPandP@toronto.ca
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kiwi said:
Previously before I got my Canadian password I was subjected to finger print/retina scan everytime I came through the border along with multiple of questions designed to stress test you. Anyone who has travelled through US Boarder Ports on non US/Canadian passports would have similar stories. (Especially LAX - which appears on many worst airport lists)
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Wow, I had no idea that the US finger prints New Zealanders (and presumably citizens of many other countries) every time they wish to enter the US. I've traveled a fair bit and have never been finger printed at a border crossing. I can see why a Nexus card is no big deal for you, since they already have your info. For me, the convenience is not worth the exposure. Yeah, we digitally expose ourselves in many different ways, but they can only find you when their looking for you. Having your finger prints on record with any government is just inviting them to look for you if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
 
Face said:
Wow, I had no idea that the US finger prints New Zealanders (and presumably citizens of many other countries) every time they wish to enter the US. I've traveled a fair bit and have never been finger printed at a border crossing. I can see why a Nexus card is no big deal for you, since they already have your info. For me, the convenience is not worth the exposure. Yeah, we digitally expose ourselves in many different ways, but they can only find you when their looking for you. Having your finger prints on record with any government is just inviting them to look for you if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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yep. Imagine arriving at LAX when 3 flights from Asia arrive at the same time and waiting in the customs line... lots of language issues at the counters, two fringer print scans and a photo taken (sorry, not reintina scan.. unless they have changed) and trust me the officials are in no rush to get through the line of people.
Glad I was able to get a Canadian Passport :)

Lots of bikes parked downtown today. Lots of scooters out too.
 
kiwi said:
yep. Imagine arriving at LAX when 3 flights from Asia arrive at the same time and waiting in the customs line... lots of language issues at the counters, two fringer print scans and a photo taken (sorry, not reintina scan.. unless they have changed) and trust me the officials are in no rush to get through the line of people.
Glad I was able to get a Canadian Passport :)

Lots of bikes parked downtown today. Lots of scooters out too.
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Yeah it's that kind of chilly but warm temperature which makes it perfect for riding (if you have the right gear on lol)
 
My story's up on the Toronto Star website - here it is: http://on.thestar.com/1QP7nnp. Many thanks to FACE for his assistance.

There's a confusing error in it, however, from an editor. It currently says: "The city still stands to earn up to $125,000 each year, based on a half-price deal, similar to existing rates in Ottawa and Vancouver."

In fact, it would make $250,000 based on a half-price deal, but it expects to implement a quarter-price deal. As I originally wrote: "If that’s so, the city stands to earn up to $125,000 each year – the quarter-million dollars suggested in the report gave motorcycles a half-price deal, similar to existing rates in Ottawa and Vancouver."

The original was probably confusing because the quarter-million dollars is different from the quarter-price deal. In any case, I've asked for the phrasing to be fixed, though it's already printed in hundreds of thousands of newspapers. Online is the place of record these days, though.
 
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MarkR said:
My story's up on the Toronto Star website - here it is: http://on.thestar.com/1QP7nnp. Many thanks to FACE for his assistance.

There's a confusing error in it, however, from an editor. It currently says: "The city still stands to earn up to $125,000 each year, based on a half-price deal, similar to existing rates in Ottawa and Vancouver."

In fact, it would make $250,000 based on a half-price deal, but it expects to implement a quarter-price deal. As I originally wrote: "If that’s so, the city stands to earn up to $125,000 each year – the quarter-million dollars suggested in the report gave motorcycles a half-price deal, similar to existing rates in Ottawa and Vancouver."

The original was probably confusing because the quarter-million dollars is different from the quarter-price deal. In any case, I've asked for the phrasing to be fixed, though it's already printed in hundreds of thousands of newspapers. Online is the place of record these days, though.
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Nice article Mark. Your last quote from Ian Mahar is encouraging. I hope he really means ALL when he says all.
 
Face said:
Nice article Mark. Your last quote from Ian Mahar is encouraging. I hope he really means ALL when he says all.
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Thanks. The fix was made by the editor, so all's well now.
Capano and Mahar seemed quite sincere in their comments. Maybe I'm still optimistic after 30 years of journalism, but I believe they really want to do the right thing. If it makes easy money for the city, then fair enough - they have a duty to research it. But they did still seem open minded about maintaining something similar to the status quo.
 
A friend sent me this pic from the City Hall Parking garage. No motorcycles allowed. When ever you see this restriction at other garages, especially downtown, please take a pic & post. Since they seem to want to use the parking charge and app to crack down on all day MC street parking, it will help our argument to document how restricted we are to garage parking.

Sorry, can't post the pic. Moderators, I've got no other pics, I've sized it down to 96 kb and it says I'm 93 kb over my limit. WTF?
 
Use imgur.com, upload the image, select direct link and copy it. In your post select the attach image and use by URL.
I would like to see this sign tbh.
 
Face said:
A friend sent me this pic from the City Hall Parking garage. No motorcycles allowed. When ever you see this restriction at other garages, especially downtown, please take a pic & post. Since they seem to want to use the parking charge and app to crack down on all day MC street parking, it will help our argument to document how restricted we are to garage parking.

Sorry, can't post the pic. Moderators, I've got no other pics, I've sized it down to 96 kb and it says I'm 93 kb over my limit. WTF?
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Upload it to imgur, or panoramio (easy sign in if you've got a google account). And when posting the pic through the URL, uncheck the box that says : Retrieve remote file and reference locally

:)
 
Face said:
A friend sent me this pic from the City Hall Parking garage. No motorcycles allowed. When ever you see this restriction at other garages, especially downtown, please take a pic & post. Since they seem to want to use the parking charge and app to crack down on all day MC street parking, it will help our argument to document how restricted we are to garage parking.

Sorry, can't post the pic. Moderators, I've got no other pics, I've sized it down to 96 kb and it says I'm 93 kb over my limit. WTF?
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As a non paid contributor to a lot of forums, you cant usually upload pics. Most of use use PhotoBucket or similar to upload our photos to, then paste the URL link here. Been doing this for 5++ years and just works well.
 
4b89a79d90e1d94d88ad53d0f6d49747.jpg
Posting for Face:
 
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