Car2Go Coming to Calgary Edit- closing as of October 31

[photon]

Maybe they're giving tickets and cancelling them so they can track how much parking is being used by Car2Go?

[Bigtime]

If there's one thing that damn dirty hippie music fest is good for, it's that there are actually Car2Go's in my community right now.

[Papi34]

So just got my car2go membership have some questions hoping someone can answer.

When you park the cars, say you park in 2Hour parking and the car gets towed or ticketed are you responsible for this?

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Papi34

So just got my car2go membership have some questions hoping someone can answer.

When you park the cars, say you park in 2Hour parking and the car gets towed or ticketed are you responsible for this?

From what I understand (I'm new too), if it is a standard 2-hour zone, you are not responsible. But if it is a location that turns into a "no stopping" and/or "tow away" zone, you are responsible. They refer to these as "commuter lanes" on their FAQ I believe.

[calgarygeologist]

I just stepped out to grab a burger and there were 11 Car2Go's parked outside my office over 2 blocks. 8 of them had parking tickets issued for over limit violations. This is pretty ridiculous.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I just stepped out to grab a burger and there were 11 Car2Go's parked outside my office over 2 blocks. 8 of them had parking tickets issued for over limit violations. This is pretty ridiculous.

I'm going to ask Bunk about this in his "ask me anything" thread.

Edit: OK - asked. Stay tuned to that thread for an answer hopefully.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I just stepped out to grab a burger and there were 11 Car2Go's parked outside my office over 2 blocks. 8 of them had parking tickets issued for over limit violations. This is pretty ridiculous.

I would be glad if Car2Go has to pay the tickets. I love the service, but man do I ever hate dropping off my son at day care, or trying the odd time to park at work, both times being late, and not finding parking because 2 solid blocks are car2go. Then knowing most of those cars are going to sit there until 2PM when people start sneaking out of work.

If the city said the first 2 hours are free, after that you get a ticket I think that is fair. It should be on Car2Go to figure out incentives to get those cars to move around all day and not stagnate.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I would be glad if Car2Go has to pay the tickets. I love the service, but man do I ever hate dropping off my son at day care, or trying the odd time to park at work, both times being late, and not finding parking because 2 solid blocks are car2go. Then knowing most of those cars are going to sit there until 2PM when people start sneaking out of work.

If the city said the first 2 hours are free, after that you get a ticket I think that is fair. It should be on Car2Go to figure out incentives to get those cars to move around all day and not stagnate.

It came to my mind that maybe there is opposition to Car2Go growing in Calgary and the violation issuance is a step to trying to reduce or force Car2Go out of Calgary. I've been seeing more complaints like yours being posted around the internet.

I sure hope the City and others are not trying to force Car2Go out. I wouldn't be surprised if the evil taxi lobby in the city has anything to do with this.

[Jimmy Stang]

I tweeted Car2Go and they DM'd me and said that yes, they do pay for "over-limit" tickets. Other violations are passed onto the member. Interesting.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I tweeted Car2Go and they DM'd me and said that yes, they do pay for "over-limit" tickets. Other violations are passed onto the member. Interesting.

Damn, that is $40 a pop if paid within the first 10 days.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Damn, that is $40 a pop if paid within the first 10 days.

I did follow-up with a question about whether this is a recent development and if they get a special volume discount on tickets. I'll post here when/if they reply.

But that's pretty wild to think that those tickets are "legit". Obviously there is some turnover with the cars in downtown for errands, etc. but many seem to sit there for lengthy periods, racking up some expenses while bringing in no revenue.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think they should set the prices according to peak/commute times.

i.e. from 6 am to 8:30 am the price doubles to $0.82/min, then its lower in the non-peak times. Dynamic pricing to optimize the use and avoid clustering.

Another idea, I see them parked illegally all the time. Let a member jump in and move it and they give you a $XX credit for doing so.

Or to take it one step further, perhaps something like giving people an incentive to move cars that are nearing their time limit in a zone. So not illegally parked YET, but could be entering the ticketing period. Currently people have no reason to care whether a car has been sitting there longer than the one beside it, but a variable rate or credit would certainly help.

By simply using GPS data and some detailed maps, this could save Car2Go a tonne of money.

[calgarygeologist]

I wonder what sort of parking agreements Car2Go has with other cities? I haven't used Car2Go outside of Calgary yet.

[Papi34]

So to confirm, I leave a car in 2 Hour parking nothing else and it gets ticketed or towed, Car2go is responsible not myself?

That seems insane to me! makes parking insanely more easy during peak times/

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Papi34

So to confirm, I leave a car in 2 Hour parking nothing else and it gets ticketed or towed, Car2go is responsible not myself?

That seems insane to me! makes parking insanely more easy during peak times/

Yes, that is correct. You can also use any Calgary Parking Authority parkade or lot, as well as residential permit zones. Here is a link to a PDF that I found useful, because I couldn't believe it either: https://www.car2go.com/common/data/l...arking_FAQ.pdf

Clearly, Park2Go are paying a premium for this type of accessibility. They responded to my latest DM on Twitter and said that they do not get a volume discount on tickets.

[RW99]

So I saw the earlier post about Car2Go Black and looked it up, https://www.car2go.com/car2go-black/ Seems intersting, not sure if I would need it all that much, I already get a great discount with full day rentals. And it was only in Germany. But then a 'Black' Car2Go card showed up in the mail today, too bad it doesn't come with any perks until I'm assuming the Black cars come to Calgary.

I think there are way too many C2G in downtown. There is always a lack of cars in my area, but there is 50+ in downtown on a Sunday afternoon. I think the city should restrict them more downtown, I thought that was a part of their mandate to limit the vehicles coming into the core during rush hour.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by RW99

So I saw the earlier post about Car2Go Black and looked it up, https://www.car2go.com/car2go-black/ Seems intersting, not sure if I would need it all that much, I already get a great discount with full day rentals. And it was only in Germany. But then a 'Black' Car2Go card showed up in the mail today, too bad it doesn't come with any perks until I'm assuming the Black cars come to Calgary.

I think there are way too many C2G in downtown. There is always a lack of cars in my area, but there is 50+ in downtown on a Sunday afternoon. I think the city should restrict them more downtown, I thought that was a part of their mandate to limit the vehicles coming into the core during rush hour.

Early in the program, first year or so, they were actively moving cars around so that they wouldn't all end up downtown or in other areas. They also had 24 hour reservations so that you could book at car for 8am in front of your house and they would deliver one to within 200m, or so, for your reservation. Now it is just a free for all.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

It came to my mind that maybe there is opposition to Car2Go growing in Calgary and the violation issuance is a step to trying to reduce or force Car2Go out of Calgary. I've been seeing more complaints like yours being posted around the internet.

I sure hope the City and others are not trying to force Car2Go out. I wouldn't be surprised if the evil taxi lobby in the city has anything to do with this.

Just to be clear I really like the service, and I think my complaint is totally valid. Parking is a nightmare in Calgary, as it is hence we pay the highest rates in North America outside NYC. Making matters way worse is when you do need a spot you see 12 cars lined up neatly killing a whole block.

I would be really bummed if they left. I live inner city and use them quite a bit. However, they need to work on these problems creatively and with the city. Like making a rule that no more than 4 can be on one block when they do their nightly car moves. That is 2 full sized parking spots.

Also, create incentives like highlighting cars that are about to violate 2 hour parking in red on the app. Give these cars discount rates or free minutes over other cars.

However, I don't think we should just let the service as good as it is stay the same despite its problems. Maybe these tickets are the nip in the bud to get the service to be that much better.

[Flames0910]

Also, create incentives like highlighting cars that are about to violate 2 hour parking in red on the app. Give these cars discount rates or free minutes over other cars.

Good way to make a lot of users happy (on both sides of the equation), while keeping more cars in circulation.

[jwslam]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I wonder what sort of parking agreements Car2Go has with other cities? I haven't used Car2Go outside of Calgary yet.

In Toronto they only have designated lots and no street parking.

Originally Posted by OldDutch

cars lined up neatly

Do we live in the same city? Calgary drivers know how to park?!?!?!