5619 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Too risky. I bridge LTE 

[Sparky]

^ You need Surfshark.

[Victoria Watcher]

In a report, staff said parking regulations were last considered in 2018 and at the time council indicated that staff should conduct a review every five years.

Staff indicated a number of areas that would be up for consideration for off-street parking in new developments:

Reduced parking minimums
Implementing parking maximums
Alternative measures in lieu of off-street parking
Expanding standards for bike parking
Loading staff requirements
Additional accessibility considerations including mobility device parking
Charging for electric vehicles
Shared vehicle parking
Cash-in-lieu of parking

Process changes to expedite parking variances.
While presenting to council, staff said that since the 1980s there has been a steady decrease in the number of vehicles entering and leaving the city, due to changes in land use, workplace patterns, and personal preference.


https://www.cheknews...ations-1152088/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 May 2023 - 04:21 AM.

[Mike K.]

There were more cars entering downtown Victoria in 1985, than in 2019?

[Ismo07]

There were more cars entering downtown Victoria in 1985, than in 2019?

 

Something doesn't seem right about that.

[Barrrister]

I would not be surprised if there were less cars as businesses have moved more to Saanach rather than downtown. But I still would lke to know how they got the numbers.

[FogPub]

Depends on what they're defining as "downtown" for this purpose as well.  In the 1980s Government was still a heavily-used street while Blanshard wasn't so much; thus if their definition of downtown excludes Blanshard then those numbers could well be true.

[Mike K.]

Let’s hope we don’t trivialize the data to that degree, just to make a point. If we’re expecting the development community to have trust in the process is has to be based on solid, indisputable data.

[Ismo07]

I would not be surprised if there were less cars as businesses have moved more to Saanach rather than downtown. But I still would lke to know how they got the numbers.

 

C'mon... I thought it was all empty parking lots downtown.   Since then many infrastructure changes have been made to allow for more vehicle access not less.  I mean numbers before the Covid shouldn't really be dropping but they have been.

 

 

Depends on what they're defining as "downtown" for this purpose as well.  In the 1980s Government was still a heavily-used street while Blanshard wasn't so much; thus if their definition of downtown excludes Blanshard then those numbers could well be true.

 

Back in the 80s, 90s, 2000's many counts were done by summer students..  I cannot understand the decrease over those years.

[Victoria Watcher]

'Our Downtown': Revitalization plans include more policing, cleaning and events

 

The initiative, which will cost at least $950,000, is being funded through extended paid parking hours and increased parking fees approved by council this year

 

https://www.timescol...-events-7024220

 

 

 

 

We really want more people to come downtown, and the way we will achieve that goal is to charge you more to park there.

[Love the rock]

 

'Our Downtown': Revitalization plans include more policing, cleaning and events

 

The initiative, which will cost at least $950,000, is being funded through extended paid parking hours and increased parking fees approved by council this year

 

https://www.timescol...-events-7024220

 

 

 

 

We really want more people to come downtown, and the way we will achieve that goal is to charge you more to park there.

 

Let me reword your sentence for you VW . We really want more people to come downtown . The way we will achieve that goal is to charge you more to park your car  while our cyclists friends enjoy free subsidies valet parking. 

Edited by Love the rock, 19 May 2023 - 04:57 PM.

[Ismo07]

 

We really want more people to come downtown, and the way we will achieve that goal is to charge you more to park there.

 

 

The current "sky is falling comments" about downtown is it is unsafe and gross.  There are still people coming but to make improvements without increasing taxes is to increase user fees.  So while they initially increase in parking may create some hesitation to coming downtown, the increased revenue, if used in a way that improves safety, increases events and beautifies the core and answers that current dialogue then people will come more often.  Obviously doing the right things with the budget will be the important thing here.  End of the day, anecdotally, I'm not seeing less and less cars coming downtown but more like the opposite.  Usually with any rate change there is a little bit of a pull back early but typically rebounds.  Once May is over I'll have a little bit of an idea and be able to do analysis on it.  Having said that doing a year to year look is still tough as we are just getting to 2019 numbers for activity downtown for on-street parking spaces.  Not quite apples to apples so....  We still do not have all offices fully staffed.

 

While I've always heard the "I don't go downtown anymore because of (insert complaint)" comments for years, people seem to still come downtown.  Either people are lying or they are just new people.  This April was the highest on-street parking transactions since 2016 for an April.  We will see what May brings.

Edited by Ismo07, 24 May 2023 - 10:10 AM.

[lanforod]

That’s all good and fine, if they actually cleaned it up downtown. Zero evidence of that now, yesterday or tomorrow.

[Ismo07]

That’s all good and fine, if they actually cleaned it up downtown. Zero evidence of that now, yesterday or tomorrow.

 

That's is the goal so...  Yeah it's not going to be an overnight thing.  I see cleaning and sweeping happen everyday... coming down Pandora last evening makes me sad for what that area looks like however.  

[Victoria Watcher]

coming down Pandora last evening makes me sad for what that area looks like however.

So why even ****ing fix anything if the City chooses to ignore its own bylaws?

[Ismo07]

So why even ****ing fix anything if the City chooses to ignore its own bylaws?

 

I think it's a little more complicated than just writing tickets to people who don't care, following up through court rulings only for nothing to happen.  Every city is dealing with this sadly.  I'm just the parking guy I wish I had those answers.  

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich and Oak Bay and Esquimalt DO NOT have these problems. It’s not every city, it’s only Victoria.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 May 2023 - 08:37 AM.

[Ismo07]

Saanich and Oak Bay and Esquimalt DO NOT have these problems. It’s not every city, it’s only Victoria.

 

I said cities, cities with downtowns where services are provided.  Pick a city...

 

Homelessness in Lethbridge more than doubled since last point-in-time report | CBC News

 

Downtown Kelowna, B.C. businesses raising concerns over homeless population - Okanagan | Globalnews.ca

 

‘We’re gaining no ground:’ Nanaimo council investigating homeless housing facility | NanaimoNewsNOW | Nanaimo news, sports, weather, real estate, classifieds and more

Edited by Ismo07, 24 May 2023 - 08:44 AM.

[GaryOak]

Saanich and Oak Bay and Esquimalt DO NOT have these problems. It’s not every city, it’s only Victoria.

If Saanich, oak Bay, and Esquimalt are anything like Sidney. The cops give the homeless a free ride into downtown Victoria.

Edited by GaryOak, 24 May 2023 - 09:25 AM.

[Matt R.]

That’s all good and fine, if they actually cleaned it up downtown. Zero evidence of that now, yesterday or tomorrow.

This is the problem, nobody believes government anymore. Thanks covid / truckers / carbon tax / climate crisis etc.