When do they finally Axe Park N Ride?

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

What revenue? Not as many people are taking transit. Transit has lost a $85 bus pass because of $3. Downtown parking places like ImPark aren't dumb. They have reduced their prices... one of my coworkers parks in an outdoor parking lot for just $240. If Bus pass is $85 and increasing plus $3 parking everyday, driving to work and parking downtown isn't that much more expensive and you can come and go anytime and not have to sit on the bus.

You are correct that there needs to be some kind of balance.

I can't speak to lots like Chinook, Heritage, Anderson etc... but the deep south lots still fill up. The truth is, especially in winter, taking the train is significantly quicker than driving and less of a headache.

If you want to get rid of the fee for low volume lots that might be a solution.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

What revenue? Not as many people are taking transit.

But many are, some of whom are parking and paying, hence the revenue he is referring to.

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Transit has lost a $85 bus pass because of $3.

"A for B" mistake. One isn't a direct result of the other.

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Downtown parking places like ImPark aren't dumb. They have reduced their prices... one of my coworkers parks in an outdoor parking lot for just $240. If Bus pass is $85 and increasing plus $3 parking everyday, driving to work and parking downtown isn't that much more expensive and you can come and go anytime and not have to sit on the bus.

You're missing the biggest single (albeit general) cause for decreased demand for both parking and transit: the recession and associated increased unemployment. The Park N' Ride fee, transit usage, and downtown parking rates don't exist in a vacuum.

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You are correct that there needs to be some kind of balance.

Agreed.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Dion

You are forgetting the maintinence and wear and tear on ones vehicle. If I was working downtown taking transit would be a no brainer.

C-Trains maybe, Busses are a pain in the ass. I'd much rather drive than transfer busses.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

C-Trains maybe, Busses are a pain in the ass. I'd much rather drive than transfer busses.

When I lived and worked in Calgary I took the bus to work everyday. In the winter it was a blessing as I didn't have to scrape the windshield and warm the vehicle up. I also used the teleride system that told me when the bus was coming - no long waits in sub zero temps. It also meant I didn't have to replace my vehicles as often due to the reduced mileage put on them.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Dion

When I lived and worked in Calgary I took the bus to work everyday. In the winter it was a blessing as I didn't have to scrape the windshield and warm the vehicle up. I also used the teleride system that told me when the bus was coming - no long waits in sub zero temps. It also meant I didn't have to replace my vehicles as often due to the reduced mileage put on them.

When did you live in Calgary last? It's alot more crowded, busses are slower and roads are worse. Teleride doesn't really matter during rush hour, the bus comes when it wants to.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Yep that is his logic. I have a contract where I go into the office 2-3 times a week. So that is my scenerio. $3 + 2.75 + 2.75 = $8.50.

But then I found a parking spot in the beltline that was $10. So it was a no brainer to drive.

That's not logic, that's an example of the scenario, which I never denied exists.

I await to hear his (or anyone else's) explanation as to how $X is not logical, and preferably why $Y is. If he says something doesn't seem logical, surely he has a reason.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

C-Trains maybe, Busses are a pain in the ass. I'd much rather drive than transfer busses.

Right, I won't take the bus either, (not that have much option living in a new community) which is why parking at the ctrain is critical.

The impark lot by my work now charges $18 a day and fills up maybe half. It used to be $30 and it would be full. The recession killed that.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Right, I won't take the bus either, (not that have much option living in a new community) which is why parking at the ctrain is critical.

The impark lot by my work now charges $18 a day and fills up maybe half. It used to be $30 and it would be full. The recession killed that.

Which one, if you don't mind my asking?

[GirlySports]

Are shuttles an option for you guys or is park and ride much easier?
The fee doesn't affect me because I have a shuttle bus stop right in front of my house.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Are shuttles an option for you guys or is park and ride much easier?
The fee doesn't affect me because I have a shuttle bus stop right in front of my house.

All but the very newest communities in Calgary have some sort of bus service that is, at most, one transfer from downtown. A bus stop is required to be within 400 meters of every Calgary residence. All Calgary residents (except those in the very newest communities, probably numbering in the hundreds or very low thousands of total people) have the option of taking the bus, so long as they can traverse themselves 400 meters or less to it.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Which one, if you don't mind my asking?

Silverado. The bus is good during rush hour but the last bus is at 6:40pm which means i have to leave work at 6pm at the latest to be safe. Some days that isn't possible. Also, the bus is probably a 10 minute walk from my house because there are only 4 stops in the neighborhood right now.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Are shuttles an option for you guys or is park and ride much easier?
The fee doesn't affect me because I have a shuttle bus stop right in front of my house.

The fee hasn't effected me since the 302 was put in, since there has always been free parking at the south end of the line.

Before the 302 was in, I would need to take an express bus in the morning, which was fine. Then due to my school schedule, I would need to take the feeder bus from Anderson in the evening. Waiting for the bus at Anderson was frequently a 20-30 minute ordeal, and that really frustrated me. If I was still forces to be in a situation like that, and I assume some people are, I would be mad.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

That's not logic, that's an example of the scenario, which I never denied exists.

I await to hear his (or anyone else's) explanation as to how $X is not logical, and preferably why $Y is. If he says something doesn't seem logical, surely he has a reason.

Huh?

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Huh?

You said "that's his logic," I assumed referring to the example you then gave of you being frequently in the "pay to park, then pay for a ride each way" scenario I talked mentioned.

Perhaps I should ask what you are referring to when you say "that's his logic."

He said "paying $8 to use transit doesn't seem logical." I then asked him how he arrived at that conclusion. Do you have any insight as to what logic he uses to determine a pricing scheme for whatever he means by "use transit?"

[Ramsayfarian]

I think the parking should be free, but you have to pay to leave.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

When did you live in Calgary last? It's alot more crowded, busses are slower and roads are worse. Teleride doesn't really matter during rush hour, the bus comes when it wants to.

Queensland.

[Jimmy Stang]

I wonder if it would have been worth it to reduce the fee instead of doing away with it. $3 was always a bit steep in my mind, but something like $1.50 would be a lot easier for people to swallow, still bring in some revenue, and probably would have been more in tune with the supply and demand of the lots. With free parking, there is too much demand. With $3 parking, the demand dropped and there was an oversupply of parking spots at many stations. Somewhere in the middle might have been better for parking, revenue, ridership, etc.

That's all hindsight now, but I do agree that parking is one of those things that all taxpayers shouldn't have to subsidize, but I think that the fee was poorly implemented in the first place.

One other scenario that used to grind my gears was the fact that the fee was in effect until 6 PM, well past the period where it was necessary (from a demand standpoint). I can park at the James Short parkade downtown after 4 PM for $2, yet a suburban park and ride lot in the middle of the afternoon exodus still would cost $3, plus train fare both ways.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

You said "that's his logic," I assumed referring to the example you then gave of you being frequently in the "pay to park, then pay for a ride each way" scenario I talked mentioned.

Perhaps I should ask what you are referring to when you say "that's his logic."

He said "paying $8 to use transit doesn't seem logical." I then asked him how he arrived at that conclusion. Do you have any insight as to what logic he uses to determine a pricing scheme for whatever he means by "use transit?"

Are you a computer guy? Are you having an issue with his choice of the word logic? If you are, for discussion purposes please interpret his post so you understand what he intended to say. I know sometimes that is impossible. But try it.

[North East Goon]

The park and ride fee stops was a disaster along the North East line, too many alternative parking locations to use along this route and for the most part people chose the alternative parking options.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Are you a computer guy? Are you having an issue with his choice of the word logic? If you are, for discussion purposes please interpret his post so you understand what he intended to say. I know sometimes that is impossible. But try it.

There is no need to be a condescending prick. Frinkprof has provided some very useful insight in this and other transit related threads. Your driveby posts are useless and add nothing to the discussion.