The Epistle of Q — Chapter 157 (Response)

Some excellent feedback... My comments on parking drew several responses, most rather congratulatory so I won’t repeat them. Nevertheless there were a couple that were both unique and rather neat and I thought I should share them with you today (as I await the start of another CFL doubleheader on TSN).

Incident #1: a colleague was at his mail superbox and another fellow came up with his new super deluxe electrically assisted dazzling extra-big pickup. In the resultant conversation it came to light that it was worth just shy of six figures but the really relevant comment came when my friend asked how he could park the monster vehicle. Did it even fit into the type of spaces found at many parking lots or on street parking spaces?
The owner replied that he didn’t park it anywhere near the hubbub of other vehicles. He tried to find a parkade or parking lot and then parked as far away from other cars as possible so no other vehicle would come close enough to even be able to hit it when a door was opened.
Well, at least there’s one pickup owner I don’t have to worry about (nor he about me!!).

Incident #2:
Another mentioned that he was hosting two students through a Lions Club exchange. One was from Spain. One was from Moldova. We took them to the ski village and summer rides at Collingwood. It was a lovely day in July. The parking lots were all full, pickup trucks everywhere.
Then …there was a vacant spot right by the walkway. The spot was reserved for Subaru owners. Nice promotion. I parked our Subaru.
These guys were dumbstruck. They laughed, though also a little impressed. This simply would not have happened in their Spain, or in their Moldova.
Now if I can only get parking lots to put in special spots for Bimmers!!

Incident #3:
I was reminded that when they built Edmonton’s new Commonwealth Stadium in the mid-seventies and Vancouver’s BC Place & Arena in the eighties & nineties, they opted not to put in parking garages or even parking lots but instead built these colossal edifices to entertainment near rapid transit stations. The transit people then added extra capacity on event days. Edmonton’s business community quickly established park & ride operations. People would go to participating malls or restaurants & pubs, park their cars and hop on either city buses or commercial rides (usually discounted if one had bought drinks or a meal). It has been phenomenally popular. Vancouver has been less inventive, but still successful, relying on commercial parking lots near transit stations or the facilities themselves to take up the vehicular traffic.
The point here: give a serious challenge, business will find serious solutions!

Here’s to a more equitable approach to parking in North America…

Enjoy your autumn, wherever you park…
g.w.