Re: Tickets for parking in the Crescents.
We have lived on Laurier Crescent just north of 10th Avenue for 49 years. We had no parking problems on our residential street until just a few years ago, when UHNBC, the Simon Fraser care facility and Iris House were expanded and the cancer facility was built. Unfortunately, not enough parking spaces were provided with these projects to enable staff and patients to park off-street.
We are sympathetic to those people who park on both sides of Laurier and Alward Streets when they go to work or attend appointments in the area.
Where else can they park?
However, on-street parking restrictions exist for a good reason. Winter is when parking really becomes an issue, because our residential streets cannot be effectively cleared during the day, with cars parked on both sides of the street for several blocks.
For many years, Laurier has been the preferred route for emergency vehicles going to Alward Place and other seniors' residences. During the past few years, the increased parking traffic and the ensuing snow plowing restrictions have made it very difficult for a fire truck to drive down Laurier or Alward during the winter.
How big a lawsuit would the city be facing if someone died because an emergency vehicle could not access a property due to illegally-parked cars?
We have tried to work with city hall for many years to find a solution to this parking problem. At one point, we were promised signage, which would at least show drivers the parking limitations stated in city bylaws. This never happened.
In 2018, city works crews started to do our snowplowing and street cleaning at night, which significantly reduced the problems of windrows of snow plowed around parked cars during the day, and improved the safety in our street. We greatly appreciate this important accommodation by city crews.
Is there a solution to this safety problem?
Would signage about parking limitations help to warn drivers that they might face tickets or risk being towed?
Would moving the bicycle lane from 10th to Eighth Avenue free enough parking spaces on 10th to reduce the pressure on residential streets?
Should buildings employing hundreds of people be required to provide more off-street parking spaces for employees and people who attend those buildings?
Residents of Laurier Crescent and Alward Street look forward to solutions to this safety issue.
Steve and Carol Johnson
Prince George
