This letter was sent to Whistler’s mayor and council and shared with Pique, in response to a story published in Pique’s Jan. 20 issue titled “RMOW posts highest Q3 parking revenue in history.”
Congratulations on this monumental achievement. I think we can do better. I have noticed many places where parking is still free, and the Resort Municipality of Whistler should move to immediately install meters.
Some examples include:
Every street in Whistler. One may park for free from March to November from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. on even numbered sides of the street. Let’s charge for that.
Meadow Park Sports Centre. Definitely. I can’t even fathom why it is free. We have a captivated audience combined with the reduced operating capacity of local transit forcing parents like me to drive and park.
Train Wreck Trail. Cheakamus Community Gardens. Andrée Vajda Janyk Sports Field. Bayly Park. Legacy Way. Jane Lakes Road. Spruce Grove Park. Rainbow Lake trailhead. Condy Park. More captivated audience using those recreational activities.
Cheakamus FSR trails and road. Hippie Lake. Seriously. Why don’t we have meters there?
Millar’s Pond. There are a few free spots there. Meter them!
The Whistler Health Care Centre. Easy one. That lot is always full. Take point from Adrian Dix who re-instituted pay parking at hospitals.
Spring Creek Community School. Myrtle Philip and Whistler Secondary. Got to be 100- plus spots that could be metered.
Pay parking is a regressive tax that hurts lower- income households. Calling it “non-tax revenue” is an insult. Let’s do better and come up with a solution that is beneficial for the people who live and work here making our community such a success.
