Editor:
It’s sad for me to see the Town of Banff moving towards pay parking. The Town is arguing that traffic congestion needs to be controlled and that paying for parking will make more parking available.
Paying for parking doesn’t increase the amount of available parking, and neither does transit. Calgary has proven that with miserably packed downtown parking that is some of the most expensive in the world. Building more places to park increases the number of parking places. And the goal of paid parking in Banff appears to be to finance building more parking without having to borrow, or tax Banff residents or businesses.
Paying for parking will certainly reduce the number of cars wanting to park, by at least one – mine. As a local, there is virtually nothing in Banff I can’t get in Canmore, where I can park for free. Implement pay parking in Banff using the methodologies being floated and my visits to Banff to patronize businesses will drop dramatically.
The cost to see a movie at the Lux will double. If I’m looking for a pair of shoes at Monod’s, I will have to pay for the privilege of browsing. Banff restaurants will need to increase their local’s discount by the cost of parking. Nestors needs to cut grocery prices. I would have to pay to come to the “free” Bow Valley Naturalists evening talks. Special events and concerts in town cease being viable.
And that’s because I can come to Canmore instead, shop Safeway instead of Nestors, Sports Experts instead of Monod’s, eat at The World of Burgers instead of Eddie’s, go to WildSmart talks. And park for free.
The way Banff is considering implementing a “smart pay” system would even make it impossible for Banff businesses to shoulder the parking cost burden by validating a parking pass – not that they likely want to take a cut to their thin operating margins. While 75 per cent of foreign visitors may be happy to pay for parking, it is a disincentive for locals.
If they go ahead with pay parking – which I doubt many locals will support – Banff could consider a “first hour free” policy and free parking after 5 p.m., though I hate wolfing down my lunch at Giorgio’s or the Bear Street Tavern. At least that would allow us Bow Valley residents a way to support Banff businesses. Otherwise, Canmore should be happy that Banff is driving local business their way.
Derek Ryder,
Harvie Heights
