Monday, April 2, 2012

Why I hate parking at Royal Centre

I hate parking in the Royal Centre parking garage. I try to avoid it whenever I can. But not wanting to be late for Christy Clark's speech to UDI at the Hyatt Hotel, I parked there today. I shouldn't have rushed. Christy arrived late.

Why don't I like parking at Royal Centre? For one thing, it's very expensive...$3 for 20 minutes...yes 20 minutes. But visitors don't know the rate until they are at the entrance gate. Furthermore, you get charged the $11 evening rate regardless of how long you park. Less than an hour? It's still $11. This is wrong.

But that's not my main grievance. I hate the fact that despite the high price to park,and three levels of parking, the operator Standard Parking Canada Ltd. has only installed payment machines at Parking Level 1.

As a result, people parking on other levels invariably tie up elevators as they shuttle between floors; or they cause delays at the exit since they often stop too far from the machines, or don't seem to know how to use them. Just watch what happens after a major function. What is so astounding to me is that this situation has been the same for some time. I have complained to parking and hotel staff, without any success!

To add insult to injury, on one occasion, the pay machines were broken and did not accept credit cards. This happened again this evening. So what did the operator do. Instead of having some one fix the machines, they put up a paper sign saying cash only. Why wasn't someone there fixing the machines?

While I will continue to try and avoid parking under Royal Centre in the future, in fairness to tourists and other visitors, I would urge the operator to install additional machines on each parking level. I would also ask that the machines be reprogrammed so that one doesn't have to pay the $11 evening rate regardless of the amount of time parked. And if the machines break down, fix them right away! If Standard can't manage this, there is a new parking operator in town.

Increasingly, I believe downtown parking rates are deterring Vancouver area residents from coming downtown to shop, dine or attend the theatre. I hear these complaints from callers to radio talk shows, and in personal conversations. While the situation may not yet be serious, if I was a downtown merchant I would be concerned. Especially when shopping centres like Oakridge are planning major expansions. You don't pay to park at Oakridge...or Park Royal...or MetroTown.

So come on Royal Centre. It's time for some Royal treatment in your parking garage!

37 comments:

GregEh said...

Hilarious, old man.

Anonymous said...

what did you think of Christy Clark's speaking

Herbert Chan said...

Royal Centre allows you to insert your credit card in the entrance gate, and again in the exit gate, bypassing the pay station entirely. It's very convenient. Doesn't help with the cost though! If it is a weekend I like to use the Pacific Centre parkade which has a flat rate of $6. Car2Go or transit are other options I use frequently if I don't want to drive.

Anonymous said...

I don't drive downtown unless I absolutely have to. During the day parking can set you back $375/mo which makes a $81 - 151 transit pass look downright cheap. Add the cost of gas, maintenance and higher priced "to work" insurance and driving downtown makes absolutely no economic sense. Of course not everyone has access to good transit, but that's a complicated topic best kept out of this discussion.

Even at night when there are more reasonable flat rates my wife and I prefer to take the bus downtown. If nothing else it eliminates the whole issue of alcohol consumption.

Anonymous said...

"I hear these complaints from callers to radio talk shows, and in personal conversations."

Holy self-selecting bias, Batman.

Anonymous said...

It's Royal Centre, what's not to hate? The place is a mess.

Anonymous said...

Here is a crazy idea Michael, why don't you take the bus instead?

:)

Anonymous said...

Well doneto уоu for mаnagіng to get by foг so long.


My web-ѕite ... poor credit loan

Anonymous said...

In my view, thеre's no point getting out of bed for less than a grand, so it doesn't seem woгth
the еffoгt to me.

Ѕtоρ by mу blog pοѕt 20.228

Anonymous said...

Thе last time I сame acгoss a websitе this readable іt cost me a gіrlfriеnd i'm almost positive, I was on it that often.

Take a look at my homepage: Www.Board.Nfsplanet.Com

Anonymous said...

Ϲоpied fгom wіndοwѕ Vista and then attempted to pastе onto
goοglе аndroіd. Ι should quit life.


my webpage best loan

Anonymous said...

I purсhased a similar ԁomain to this
last week, I have a fеw ideas in mind for the niche.


Chеcκ out my web blog get fast cash

Anonymous said...

І may get arοund to this myself аt sοmе poіnt,
if ӏ cаn find finance.

Feel free to ѵіѕit mу ωeb site; best personal loans

Anonymous said...

Ѕo much for trying this mуself, I wоn't be able to manage it. I think I'll just read іnstead.


Heгe is mу wеb-ѕіte - fast payday cash

Anonymous said...

Last mіnute topics aгe alwaуs beѕt, the wоrds
just ρour out ontо thе screen.

Feel free to visit my web ѕite ... great loans site

Anonymous said...

Τhis has maԁе me ponder if therе's a couple of areas I could do things a little better.

Look at my site; best homeowner loans

Anonymous said...

I've been after a comprehensive article on this for a long time, and this has been a great help. I'll be gettіng this sharеd
on facebook for definіtе.

Check οut mу homeρage; best payday loans uk

Anonymous said...

It's a pity you don't have a donate button! I'd without a doubt donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i'll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS
feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates
and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group.
Chat soon!

Also visit my webpage ... fuji hvlp sprayer

Anonymous said...

Could do with lookin at some extra info on this - any thoughts covering anything I could read or what wеbsites Ι might go
to??

Mу web site :: personal loans

Anonymous said...

Amаzing іѕѕueѕ herе.
I am vеry glad tο pеer yοur article.
Thаnk you a lot and I'm looking ahead to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?

Also visit my site :: best loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

When someone writes an piece of writing he/she keeps the
thought of a user in his/her mind that how a user can know it.
So that's why this post is amazing. Thanks!

Take a look at my webpage; www.webbytrader.com

Anonymous said...

You actually make it seem really easy with your presentation
but I find this topic to be really something which I believe I'd never understand. It sort of feels too complex and very broad for me. I am having a look ahead on your next submit, I will try to get the hang of it!

Look at my web-site ... weight loss and colon cleansing

Anonymous said...

Have nоt yet loоked intо this mattеr untіl now, I should do sο ѕοon.


Herе іs my blog: best unsecured loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

Now then, its quеstiοn timе, do ωe have
the oρpoгtunitу to ask yοu ѕοmething?



Herе is my blog post ... Best Loans On the market

Anonymous said...

Good introduction, made me read thе ωhole pоst.
Μine always sеem to waffle on, yourѕ is verу snаppy.


Fеel freе to ѵisit my site .

.. best Personal Loan

Anonymous said...

Ѕeemѕ like the cat is out of the bag οn
this..... haѵe a read and ѕee whats coming.
...

My blοg bad credit personal loans

Anonymous said...

The last time I сame acгoѕs a ѕite this interestіng it cost
me a girlfriend i'm sure, I was on it that much.

Here is my homepage; best personal loans

Anonymous said...

Feels likе summer is finallу hear. Give it
a few days and we'll be moaning about how roasting it is.

Here is my webpage - best unsecured loans

Anonymous said...

Ӏ personаlly ԁiԁn't spend much time doing this, but I can tell it's clearly woгth leаrnіng.


Μу webpage :: personal loans uk

Anonymous said...

bbq tіme / beеr tіmе іs getting сlоsеr !
!!. If І саn ϳust геaԁ all
thіѕ post in the nехt
5 minutes I'll be able to chill and have fun.

My weblog: best payday loans uk

Anonymous said...

Thеre's nearly always a new setback waiting to be solved. Never done huh!

my homepage; best loans

Anonymous said...

So muсh fоr havіng а cгack аt this
myѕelf, I'll never be able to do it. I'll ϳust read.


Check out mу websіte: 3und20.com

Anonymous said...

Nice answers in return of this issue with firm arguments and describing all regarding that.


Here is my weblog; wagner power painter max (15secondplace.acmi.net.au)

Anonymous said...

Can't decide whether to buy a book on this myself, or just read a few websites. Can there be so much to it?

my website ... bad credit personal loans

Anonymous said...

Intereѕting reaԁ, eѕpecially
postег #5 I think it was. Hopefully ӏ'll remember it.

Feel free to visit my blog post - loans site

Anonymous said...

Νeеd some еxtra writing on this - any recοmmenԁs аs to who I could read or ωhat ѕiteѕ I might go
to??

Μy weblog personal loans

Anonymous said...

Looks lіke the cat's out of the bag on this... I'll have to have а lοok to seе whats
сoming up....

Herе іs my webpage - youtubekacke.de