Sandra Smith, parking coordinator inWhistler, found herself in themiddle of amajor controversy.


Public Rallies Against Pay Parking in Canadian Town


“T BY PETE GOLDIN


HERE IS NO SUCH THING as free parking,” says Sandra Smith, Supervisor of BylawServ- ices for the municipality of Whistler, Canada. This profound


statement is the final word in a passionate public debate that encompassed the ski resort town in British Columbia, with the public demanding to keep free parking in a city garage that had never charged for parking before.


The commotion all started at aCityCouncilmeeting inMay,


when the council decided to raise street parking rates from $1 to $2 per hour, and to implement pay parking in a garage, adjacent to the town’s shopping area, that had always been free.


20 NOVEMBER 2009 • PARKING TODAY • www.parkingtoday.com The council’s mistakes were many. First, they made it clear


that the only reason for the change was to generatemore revenue for the city. “In these tough economic times, the council had their eye on


themoney,” says Smith, who is in charge of the city’s parking. According to Smith, the council repeatedly made the point


about revenue but did not reference other legitimate reasons to raise parking rates and implement pay parking, such as reducing overall vehicle use, single-occupancy-vehicle use, and green- house gas emissions – all of which may have been more accept- able to the public. In addition, there was no consultation with Smith’s Bylaw


Services department, no study of parking usage, and no commu- nication to the public. The council simply made the decision one day and stuck to it.


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