You don’t have to be incredibly savvy on Whistler politics to know that parking costs in the day lots were a major campaign platform for almost all candidates in the recent elections. It is no surprise then that during its first meeting on December 7th, the new council unanimously voted to bring back free parking in Day Lots 4 and 5 by December 21st.
Photo: Joern Rohde
This resolution would also make all the lots free after 5 p.m., continue charging $8 per day in Lots 2 and 3, and $15 year-round in Lot 1. In hopes of changing the parking structure by the heavy traffic holiday season, Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden brought up the free parking discussion just 24 hours after being sworn into office.
“I really want (Day Lots) 2 to 5 free, but it’s a lot to knock off very quickly without thorough examination of the budget.” -Mayor Wilhelm-Morden
The Parking Lot Operations Committee contains two representatives from the city and two from Whistler/Blackcomb, and this is the organization that would stand in the way of further parking overhaul. Already they seem skeptical about free parking in Lots 4 and 5, commenting,
“I’m not sure that we think that’s the best decision but it’s the popular decision to make. It’s where this community wants to go.”
This free parking resolution could eliminate some $300,000 in parking revenues, but it is clear where Whistlerirtes stand here. Nobody wants to pay for parking and that includes UnofficialWhistler too. Here is what UnofficialWhistler had to say in March when free parking in these lots originally ended (No More Free Parking – a must read)
you are still only taking up one parking spot if bikes and beer are the only things that overflow the space
Why should WB and the city have to shoulder the cost of parking lots? If we want to ski then we should be willing to pay to park too. It’s not a poor man’s sport after all.
Piss off.
There are a lot of people who don’t need to spend $24 they don’t have for three days skiing… and free parking means free accommodation. Now, nobody with a car, ramen packets, and a season pass will have to pay a dime to ski Whistler, the way it has been and should continue to be.
How about you bring your shovel and take care of the snow that is in the spot you want to park in. Snow removal does not just happen. Parking fees cover that and many other costs associated with a parking lot. If you don’t like parking fees take the bus or be willing to put some effort in.
If every citizen got off their duff to contribute to their community there would be a lot more to go around. Instead the world is filled with morons like you that think everything should be handed to them with no effort or contribution.
Where did it become lost that these things are just the cost of doing business. If you want customers, you need to give them a place to park. The notion that these customers are responsible for the costs associated with snow removal etc. is absurd. When you buy a ticket that’s what you are paying for. It seems more and more that companies don’t want to be responsible for the costs of opperation, that just eats into their profits. Perhaps they should explore the option of vending machines for tolet paper (say 25cents a square) What choice would you have? For a place of the size and scope of Whistler the amount of $$ they spend on toilet paper must be astronomical, but the reality is it would be unreasonable to expect customers to pick up the tab on this, if you have customers you are making money. If people are parking in your lots you are making money. To view the costs of parking as a loss is a twisted perspective.
Wayne you suck
ahahah u gaper ………
Paid parking had nothing to do with skiing or skiers, it was just a way to rip people off. Every day last winter and this summer cars were prowling the free lots while thousands of pay spots were empty. The village was losing money, I for one was not going to drive into the village to hang out and pay $8 for the privilege. WB will probably make more money with this new charging scheme. Families and people with money will pay a little extra to park close for skiing, everyone else can walk a little farther or take a bus. FYI, many neighborhoods in Whistler, including mine do not have any bus service, the only way to ski is to drive. Why not charge even more for Lot 1 and offer Valet, Vail does and it is worth every penny of the $45 per day to do so.