Councillor raises clustering concerns, as Car2Go asks to exceed parking time limits

Car2Go is asking for permission for vehicles to park longer in two hour zones in Calgary.

The request was brought to a transportation committee meeting Thursday, as some councillors passed on complaints from residents that vehicles were “clustering” in busy parking areas.

Counc. Jeremy Farkas said his constituents have been annoyed by Car2Gos taking up available spaces too long, claiming the Calgary Parking Authority hasn’t been ticketing or towing enough.

City administration insisted it wasn’t a big enough problem.

“I think part of the difficulty that we are having in this conversation is that the definition of clustering does not apply to what’s actually happening out in the real world, and given the volume of calls that I’m receiving on this issue, I tend to believe the people that are most impacted by this,” Farkas said.

Counc. Evan Woolley expressed doubt.

“Given that you have such a small amount of your ward in the Car2Go zone, I would love to see the volume of calls that you’re getting on this, and apply that against the rest of the complaints because most of my ward — all of my ward is in the Car2Go zone, and I received a fractional amount,” Woolley said.

Car2Go Calgary General Manager Jon Wycoco told councillors vehicles move around frequently enough, they’d actually be paying the city more than it would get in revenue from parking tickets.

“The city saves on costs because it would not spend time and resources on enforcing this type of infraction,” he said.

Wycoco said the company is willing to pay more to avoid passing the cost of tickets onto customers.

City administration cited a recent study that shows every Car2Go represents up to 11 cars not on the road: up to two vehicles that aren’t purchased and up to nine that remain parked at home.

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