Poll Results: Poll was open from September 26 – October 18, 2016. Results posted October 20.
Should Car2Go be allowed to park their vehicles in the neighbourhood?
69 Responses
1. Yes – “car-share” companies like Car2Go reduce the number of vehicles on city streets by offering an alternative to private car ownership, and should be allowed to park on permit-parking-only streets without penalty. 19 votes (27.5%)
2. Yes – Car2Go should be allowed to park on permit-only streets, but the City should charge them a fee to do so. 27 votes (39.1%)
3. No – Tow them away immediately. Residents who have paid for permit-only-parking should not be forced to find alternate parking because a for-profit company (Car2Go is owned by Daimler AG) is ignoring the law and occupying legally paid-for parking space. 14 votes (20.3%)
4. No – Let the City continue to ticket Car2Go vehicles as illegally parked ($15 per infraction) when residents complain, and this will be part of Daimler AG’s “cost of doing business”. 1 vote (1.4%)
5. No – Add a significant levy to the $15 infraction fee when the offending vehicle/program is owned by a for-profit entity. If vehicle rental companies such as U-Haul and traditional car rental companies (Hertz, Avis, Budget etc.) started using Cabbagetown streets as their parking lots – they should be penalized sufficiently to make it unprofitable. 7 votes (10.1%)
6. Other 1 vote (1.4%)
One person voted “Other” and provided the following comment:
No – Tow them away immediately IF ILLEGALLY PARKED (i.e. overnight or >posted time).. Residents who have paid for permit-only-parking should not be forced to find alternate parking because a for-profit company (Car2Go is owned by Daimler AG) is ignoring the law and occupying legally paid-for parking space. TOW > ticket, as batch tickets likely plead down & paid in pennies on the dollar.
Our Comments:
Combine options 1 and 2 together (66.6%) and it seems like most people are in favour of allowing Car2Go to park (either for free or for the City to come up with a fee as many other municipalities have). If you add option 5 (increase the fine) to those two numbers (essentially the same as option 2) and you get 76.7% in favour of Car2Go parking in the area but having to pay something for it.
Option 3 (20%) are completely against Car2Go parking.
Interestingly, option 4 (the status quo – keep ticketing Car2Go at the same rate as the city is now) got the fewest votes (1.4%).
Click for complete Car2Go Parking Poll Results
September 26, 2016
We have received complaints from residents about illegal parking of Car2Go vehicles in the neighbourhood. Car2Go is a for-profit car-sharing company owned by Daimler AG (2015 revenue was approx. $221 Billion CDN). Car2Go previously parked its vehicles in Green P parking lots and other designated areas, but in March 2016 it decided to give its customers permission to park on residential street-side parking areas for more than the maximum 3 hours, and also during overnight periods which require parking permits – Car2Go pays any fines that are issued.
In some cases, the customer parking the vehicle is visiting Cabbagetown and will leave with the vehicle. In other cases the customer lives in the neighbourhood and after using the vehicle they are leaving it on the street awaiting the next person who has rented it to come along.
Car2Go Toronto rolling out on-street parking despite City Hall rejection (metronews.ca)
Regardless of viewpoint, it’s clear that some residents are using the service, and some are being inconvenienced by it – therefore we need your input. Please complete the poll below with your views.
For some context:
– City of Toronto webpage on Car2Go Parking illegally on residential streets (toronto.ca)
– Metro News Article on Car2Go Parking on Toronto Streets (metronews.ca)