Zoo to Charge $5 for Parking Despite Alderman Protests

[Helen Bedd]

I did a search and couldn't find anything on this topic yet, so I hope it's not a fata.


http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...0-06626a4e9851


For those of you that actually visit the zoo, will this affect often you go?

[troutman]

We will ride our bikes to the zoo.

[Phaneuf3]

I'm at the zoo quite often. I always take the train so it won't have an impact on me. I support this - especially after finding out that the zoo is responsible for all the building, maintenance and security cost on a lot that is often used by LRT users as well as zoo patrons.

Further incentive for people to use mass transit to get to the zoo is a plus.
The main concern according to the article appears to be the impact of transit users and low income families.
To the transit users: either transit fees should help pay for the lot or the zoo should charge for use of their private lot. That only seems fair.
To low income families, if you can afford to buy, maintain and run a car, you can afford $5 for parking at the zoo. Also, there's always the train as an option.

[Caged Great]

There's a train stop right beside the Zoo as well. Stupidity at it's finest.

[dissentowner]

$5 is not a whole lot really and will help the zoo with upkeep.

[Russic]

bikes and transit are both strong alternatives. Even if they aren't, at the end of a day at the zoo, 5$ isn't going to be that big of a deal.

[kermitology]

I fully support this.. $5 isn't a huge deal for parking. Maybe would be better at $2, but whatever! I live in Inglewood, I can walk there.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by troutman

We will ride our bikes to the zoo.

I see what you did there.

[Mccree]

http://www.calgaryzoo.org/Admissions..._admission.htm

$5 may not seem like alot but for a family of 4 it will cost you the following during the summer

2 x 18 = 36.00
2 x 10 = 20.00
parking = 5.00

$61.00 just to get in the door. If you take transit it will cost you even more

2 adults 2 x 2.50 x 2 = 10.00
2 kids 2 x 1.50 x 2 = 6.00

So taking the train will cost you $72.00 just to get in the door. That does not include any drinks/snacks you either buy there or haul on the Train with you.

For some that can be expensive.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I see what you did there.

What did I do? Was I clever without even realizing it?

[Locke]

I propose that they shut the zoo down for this outrage.

Come on people. Free parking was never going to last forever, especially when its being abused by non-patrons.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by troutman

What did I do? Was I clever without even realizing it?

I thought maybe you were referring to the other thread about bikes vs cars. nm then

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Mccree

http://www.calgaryzoo.org/Admissions..._admission.htm

$5 may not seem like alot but for a family of 4 it will cost you the following during the summer

2 x 18 = 36.00
2 x 10 = 20.00
parking = 5.00

$61.00 just to get in the door. If you take transit it will cost you even more

2 adults 2 x 2.50 x 2 = 10.00
2 kids 2 x 1.50 x 2 = 6.00

So taking the train will cost you $72.00 just to get in the door. That does not include any drinks/snacks you either buy there or haul on the Train with you.

For some that can be expensive.

No offence, but it will cost exactly $5 more after the change to parking than it did before. The price of admission and food and all that other stuff is irrelevant because it's the same regardless of the parking fee.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by fredr123

No offence, but it will cost exactly $5 more after the change to parking than it did before. The price of admission and food and all that other stuff is irrelevant because it's the same regardless of the parking fee.

agreed. The zoo seemed expensive to me long before this $5 parking proposal came in.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Why not get your parking validated with a receipt from the zoo for those that actually went to the zoo. Thus, getting free parking.

[Thunderball]

If the idea is for the zoo to curb abuse for non-patrons, why not do something like this:
$5 flat parking fee, receipt given

$4 discount on total admission (2 or more) with receipt.

That way, abusers are paying for the lot expansion, and zoo patrons are still somewhat subsidizing it, but aren't taking a full hit.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by fotze

From those numbers it seems to me that the $5 isn't the problem, its the other $67.

I know what your getting at but this is typicall Canadian thinking. "Really, its only another $5 what are you complaining about".

We Canadians get nickled and dimed so much it makes me sick.

Gasoline - excise tax
provincial gas tax
provincial sales tax (if applicable)
Gst on all the taxes and the product.

But hey, its only a few cents for each one, why are you complaining?

Cell phone - regular bill
- 911 fee
- system access fee
- roaming charges
- data fees

But hey, its only a few bucks for each one, why are you complaining?

Airline tickets - regular bill
- Airport improvement fee
- Security fee
- Gas surcharge
- extra baggage fee
- booking fee
- insurance
- nav canada service charge
- GST

But hey, it's ok to add a few extra charges as long as it's only a few buck....why would you complain about a few bucks?

[Mccree]

I agree, at the end of the day the $5 is not much but for some that may be the breaking point in choosing to go the Zoo or not.

I think the Zoo is already too expensive and I do not think I have been there in over 15 years. Charging $5 to park is just another excuse for me not go.

[Shazam]

They have an outstanding rose garden. Besides, I can make up for the admission fee by taking some softwood cutting from the roses. Ha ha!

[troutman]

An annual family pass is dirt cheap - something like $100 IIRC.