Dear Editor,
I live in a townhouse complex at the end of Francis Road, near the dyke (Seafair West).
The unit I live in has a single garage for one car, which my mom uses for her car. There is no other parking available (guest parking is only for visitors of the complex).
So, the only option for me is to park my car on the street when at home. I work a typical 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. day in Vancouver.
Now that the weather has turned sunny, I have started bicycling to work a few times a week to reduce my carbon footprint and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Upon arriving home today, after biking to work, I noticed a parking ticket on my windshield (just a warning this time) because my car had been parked in front of a house that I didn’t own for more than three hours during a weekday (Bylaw 5870).
The house in front of which I had parked has a two-car garage attached to it, and no shortage of street parking around it during the day with the streets remaining practically empty.
Since all the streets around my house are residential, when I choose to cycle into work and leave my car at home (which is generally encouraged by cities), bylaws make it impossible for me to leave my car anywhere (I live nowhere near the city centre).
I find these bylaws counter the message cities send to its residents regarding green ways of commuting for someone in my shoes.
What options do I have?
Cycling saves me money, reduces traffic congestion and reduces polluting emissions.
I feel like something should be done for someone like me trying to do my part for the environment. Any Good Samaritan in the area willing to let me park in front of their house without complaining to the city?
Marcus Ribi
Richmond
