Residental Parking Bylaw

[CliffFletcher]

I've had less parking problems in older neighbourhoods close to the core than in the burbs. Most households in places like Killarney, Altadore, etc. have one, maybe two cars. The 3-4 vehicle family is a suburban phenomenon.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by kevman

I came in to make some inner-city comment about being lucky to park on my block let alone in front of my house but after reading the thread decided the real problem is you all own too many cars!

If you can't park in front of your house clean your damn garage and stop buying so much garbage. Easy.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I've had less parking problems in older neighbourhoods close to the core than in the burbs. Most households in places like Killarney, Altadore, etc. have one, maybe two cars. The 3-4 vehicle family is a suburban phenomenon.

I agree. We lived in South Calgary and Marda Loop, my bro lived in Bankview and my mom lives in Marda Loop. With all that experience we almost never had a problem finding street parking for our vehicles or for guests. These were obviously areas with much higher population density but parking never really became an issue.

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by Red

Would be nice if 50ft lots and rear garages became more common again. These parking issues are very common in the burbs where besides the front garage and driveway there is one parking spot for every 2 houses. The garage can almost never hold 2 cars and the driveway can't be utilized fully as it would block the car that's in the garage.

If you think this is bad, wait 10 years. Young family neighborhoods like Cranston, Auburn, Evanston etc will double up on cars when kids grow up. Fun times.

My block has 60-80' frontages and almost every house has a garage (2/3 front drive, the rest off the alley). The street is virtually empty of parked cars, save the one new family across the street. 4x SUVs/trucks, boat, two motorbikes, and a full garage. Their place kinda stands out like a sore thumb. I've had 30+ people over for parties and bbq's, never a problem with parking within a half block or so.

And yes, I do realize how lucky we are to have such a low density neighborhood.

[flamesgirl18]

I'd be curious to know the rules against parking in the middle of a cul-de-sac with no island/curb in the middle. I just moved out of my parents' place but it's still an issue when I go to visit - these people just moved in last year and they drive a massive SUV and a truck and constantly park in the middle of the cul-de-sac. Their driveway is the largest in the cul-de-sac and could easily fit 4 cars on it, plus they have a double car garage. I can't even count how many times I've almost backed into their vehicles when I'm trying to get out of the driveway - it drives me nuts.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by flamesgirl18

I'd be curious to know the rules against parking in the middle of a cul-de-sac with no island/curb in the middle. I just moved out of my parents' place but it's still an issue when I go to visit - these people just moved in last year and they drive a massive SUV and a truck and constantly park in the middle of the cul-de-sac.

So essentially parking it in the middle of the street? That's pretty messed up. Man, wtf is wrong with people.

During the winter, I'd love to see a plow creating a median with all the snow into the middle on top of the vehicle.

[Minnie]

I spoke with bylaw again today because I had further questions regarding our situation last week. This time, it was annoying but I could wait a bit for the person to remove their vehicle since bylaw would only ticket.

But we have multiple specialist appointments to attend and next time it may be I can't afford to wait over an hour for the situation to resolve itself. Those docs will not keep you on their service if you're late (too often) or miss an appointment - understandable, their time is important - and rebooking because you're blocked in your driveway could mean a longer wait for another appointment. Bylaw said to phone RCMP and *they* can have it removed but if we call the towtruck, we're on the hook for that bill. Makes me feel like just Towanda'ing the hell out of the vehicle blocking me in - I wouldn't but the thought crossed my mind during the conversation.

[mrkajz44]

I really don't think it is that people have more cars. I think its people can barely fit one car in the garage now. We moved recently and noticed that any time a garage door is open, there is stuff piled to the ceiling on at least one side of the garage. So, in a typical two-car family, one is parked on the street / driveway.

[Minnie]

Garages are smaller. Our home in Strathmore was considered a 2 car garage but you couldn't get 2 full sized vehicles in it. I could get my Fusion in but my husband's car (older Lincoln) was too long. Even my Fusion was too long for the other side. A lot of our neighbors complained of the same issue. I don't know if that was a weird wobble particular to the builder(s) in that subdivision, but it's a complaint we heard there, and we're hearing it elsewhere too.

It's part of the reason we bought a home without a garage this time, so that we can build to suit. We've checked all the appropriate building whatevers (well, my husband did lol) and the garage we can build will easily fit both his car and my car in it. So yeah, we did use that smaller side for a different purpose, though it wasn't piled high to the ceiling. We utilized the high ceilings and built a ton of storage space in, above the garage door area, and my husband used the garage space for workspace and we stuck the freezer out there as well.

Ideally, we will eventually either purchase a home with a laneway garage, or space to build a laneway garage, or acreage, in which case it's a moot point regarding the parking.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by kevman

I came in to make some inner-city comment about being lucky to park on my block let alone in front of my house but after reading the thread decided the real problem is you all own too many cars!

If you can't park in front of your house clean your damn garage and stop buying so much garbage. Easy.

What would you tell to the people who have a clean garage, but need to park on the street because of vehicle size?

[chemgear]

People have also gotten bigger (chicken and the egg with getting bigger vehicles too).

[kevman]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

What would you tell to the people who have a clean garage, but need to park on the street because of vehicle size?

Haha now you've done it...

Drive a smaller car - you can count on one hand the number of people you see in a day that actually need a full size or bigger truck.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by flamesgirl18

I'd be curious to know the rules against parking in the middle of a cul-de-sac with no island/curb in the middle.

As mentioned this is basically just parking in the middle of the road as far as laws go. An easily ticketable (likely towable) offense. Angle parking in "island less" cul de sacs is against the bylaw, so this is like 10 steps worse.

If it annoys you, chat with the owner, or give CPA a ring and let them know you can't get out as someone has parked blocking the roadway. Problem solved.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by kevman

Haha now you've done it...

Drive a smaller car - you can count on one hand the number of people you see in a day that actually need a full size or bigger truck.

Trucks with a logo and number on the side notwithstanding.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by kevman

Haha now you've done it...

Drive a smaller car - you can count on one hand the number of people you see in a day that actually need a full size or bigger truck.

So people should only buy things they need. Would you have the government mandate that only contractors or people with trailers are allowed trucks or simply have people justify their purchase to a governing body before they are allowed to make the purchase?

It boils down to public parking being public parking. If people want to own so many vehicles that they need to park on the street, so be it. It's open parking, not reserved for one person or another.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

So people should only buy things they need. Would you have the government mandate that only contractors or people with trailers are allowed trucks or simply have people justify their purchase to a governing body before they are allowed to make the purchase?

It boils down to public parking being public parking. If people want to own so many vehicles that they need to park on the street, so be it. It's open parking, not reserved for one person or another.

I agree that it shouldn't be reserved in any way, but to me it's just common courtesy to not take up more than your fair share of public parking.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

So people should only buy things they need. Would you have the government mandate that only contractors or people with trailers are allowed trucks or simply have people justify their purchase to a governing body before they are allowed to make the purchase?

It boils down to public parking being public parking. If people want to own so many vehicles that they need to park on the street, so be it. It's open parking, not reserved for one person or another.

Kids with pants and terrible music aren't the downfall of society; it's the insistence that the only things people shouldn't do are those that are illegal.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I agree that it shouldn't be reserved in any way, but to me it's just common courtesy to not take up more than your fair share of public parking.

What dies fair share look like though?

I make a good amount of money and thus pay more in taxes than someone who makes less, is my fair share bigger because I contributed more?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

What dies fair share look like though?

I make a good amount of money and thus pay more in taxes than someone who makes less, is my fair share bigger because I contributed more?

Really? Fair is what's fair. That's why I chose that word. If someone can't park on the street near their house because their neighbor uses their garage for storage and takes up half a block, you figure that's ok as long as that guy pays more income tax?

[Ahuch]

Originally Posted by Red

Would be nice if 50ft lots and rear garages became more common again. These parking issues are very common in the burbs where besides the front garage and driveway there is one parking spot for every 2 houses. The garage can almost never hold 2 cars and the driveway can't be utilized fully as it would block the car that's in the garage.

If you think this is bad, wait 10 years. Young family neighborhoods like Cranston, Auburn, Evanston etc will double up on cars when kids grow up. Fun times.

The new suburbs are brutal for this. Very little street parking per house and everyone is forced to drive everywhere so there are tons of vehicles. If I took transit in one of those new communities I'd have to find some sort of tall building to jump off.

[billybob123]

In Ottawa, maximum parking on the street without a permit is 3 hours, City wide. Also no street parking overnight if more than 7 cm snow forecast. Seems to work well.