[Dion]

Side streets appeared to be filling up faster than the Somerset-Bridlewood transit parking lot this morning as commuters tried to dodge the $3 parking fee which came in today and three park-and-ride stations.

By 9 a.m. there were still plenty of spaces at the southernmost transit lot. Normally south-enders and out-of-towners fill it up by 7 a.m., regular lot users said.

“I haven’t even seen it this dead on weekends,” said Silverado resident Nicole, as her husband paid at the automated machine at a half-empty Somerset lot around 7:10 a.m

And accordingly, lots further up the line at Fish Creek-Lacombe, Shawnessy and Canyon Meadows filled up earlier, with some drivers parking illegally on the grass, in supermarket lots or along any available patch of curb.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...962/story.html