Just thought I'd put a few thoughts down to get discussion on this topic started.

First, we need to initiate discussions with the appropriate city official or alderman.  If anyone knows of a city official or alderman who rides, this could prove to be a huge step forward.  To have someone who is as passionate as we are fighting on our side would give us a nice advantage.

If discussions with city officials get us nowhere, we might be required to throw a petition together.  We'll then have to find a way to get motorcycle and scooter riders from around the city to sign it.

As for the petition route, we are aware of an existing petition on the internet right now for Downtown-Calgary motorcycle/scooter parking.  It can be found here:

City of Calgary Free Motorcycle and Scooter Parking

General consensus on this petition, however, seems to indicate that it's too strongly worded and its expectations too high.  We need to compromise to a point where city officials will be more willing to openly discuss this issue with us.

If anyone has any additional thoughts or ideas on this matter, please feel free to express them here.

An open letter I submitted to Mr. John Mar, Alderman of Ward 8:

Mr. Mar,

I'm trying to lobby for free/low cost motorcycle/scooter parking in downtown Calgary. I've read your biography and your commitment to issues concerning the environment seems very encouraging to us riders as we see riding to work as an environmentally friendly alternative to driving. By encouraging more people to ride to work with free/low cost parking, you'd be demonstrating to a growing demographic of Calgary riders that these types of environmentally progressive ideas are achievable in our city.

I understand that the downtown area encompasses the ward you represent but before I discuss this any further, I would like to know if you are, in fact, the person that I should be directing any correspondence relating to this issue to.

Also, please be aware that this comment and any reply is likely to be posted on www.albertamoto.com simply to inform other Calgary riders of the current situation with respect to this issue.

Regards,

Ryan
Alberta Motorcycle Community
www.albertamoto.com


Alderman John Mar


Ward 8

______________________________________________
From:    Jim
Sent:   Sunday, June 07, 2009 2:59 PM
To:   'alcaw7@calgary.ca'
Subject:   Motorcycle Parking Downtown

Greetings,

I'm trying to lobby for free/low cost motorcycle/scooter parking in downtown Calgary. I see in the news that you have a number of inititives that are pro-environment, I feel that this would be direclty in line a pro-environment stance. By encouraging more people to ride to work with free/low cost parking, you'd be demonstrating to a growing demographic of Calgary riders that these types of environmentally progressive ideas are achievable in our city.

To this effect, the recent changes at the Old Spagetti Factory downtown is rather disturbing. The OSF itself enjoyed the line of sparkling clean motorcycles as inexpensive dressing to an otherwise run down section of concrete, however Impark has decided that they would like to charge $400/month for parking there. Considering that the typical motorcycle takes up approximatly 10 sq feet of space, this is a rather expensive $40/sq foot to park. This is generally more expensive and wasteful that driving a car and parking it on a full sized space.

Hundreds of people a day would walk by that line of motorcycles and scooters, and admire them on their way to Eau Claire from the downtown core, but this will no longer be the case. My understanding from OSF is that the issue is currently up in the air as to who owns that section of land, however that has not stopped Impark from putting up ugly signage to the effect that people must pay to park there.

If you would be able to intervene on behalf of the riders of Calgary to keep this resource free and open to us, that would be wonderful.

Thankyou,

Jim

Impark approached me (SEPT 09) with a good monthly motorcycle parking deal. It is not a super deal, but is the best so far for parking downtown.
The price was of course not in the system, but now it is set up for future use.

The price is $ 100 + GST / month which is better than what the City is asking for the equivalent. I think a fair price will be around $ 80 a month since we can fit probably 4 bikes in a stall that is worth $300 / month.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=51.047185,-114.077514&daddr=&geocode=&hl=en&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=51.04681,-114.077364&sspn=0.002469,0.006947&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=18

The lot I am talking about is 56. The website www.impark.com. Apparently is better to talk to a local rep instead of the 1-800 number (based in Vancouver). If you think it is something that you want, talk to Nicole from Impark: 403 299 7251.

I just signed for the month of OCT 09 and then I will see for the month of NOV. If you go through her, you can cancel the pass with 1 week notice, instead of 1 month if you own a car. I plan to renew the pass as soon as weather permits next year.

Until we get free parking downtown, this is the best deal. I am tired of parking illegally and worry the whole day that my bike will be ticketed.

Cheers,
JD