You're bleeding me dry here...

Photo Credit: Global News, Winnipeg

Global News reported last night on a story happening in downtown Winnipeg where the Winnipeg Parking Authority and local business owners are asking for increased parking costs to almost double the amount drivers are paying. 

The Winnipeg Parking Authority recommends weekday rates increase from $1 to $2 per hour and evening rates (which are currently free) be $1 per hour until 8:30 p.m. Another part of the plan is to start meters an hour earlier, from 9 to 8 a.m. and those who violate parking laws pay $60 instead of the current $40.

According to Stefano Grande, executive director of downtown Business Improvement Zone, the reason for this petition is to develop a higher turnover rate for visitors to the downtown and Exchange District area.

Or greed? Is the Winnipeg Parking Authority just becoming a little more money hungry? Because that's all it looks like to me. 

Apparently this hike in parking prices has worked in the past in St. Boniface, however,  where are people in the Exchange supposed to park? As a student that attends Red River College's Exchange District Campus from outside of Winnipeg, I have to drive every day. I try to park in the lot across from the school as often as possible, but its not that big of a lot. So at times I'm stuck on the street and have to rush outside to move my car every 2 hours between classes. 

At this time, the parking lot by the school costs $9 per day to park in and parking on the street is $1 per hour for approximately $8 per day. I suspect that the parking authority would end up raising the cost of parking in a lot should this be approved by the City of Winnipeg.

As a student, I have to find the cash to fund driving to school and parking in the Exchange District as it is. I think that an increase in this will just end up bleeding students in a similar position dry, especially since more programs (RRC's Culinary Arts)  are expected to join the Exchange District next year. How are students supposed to pay for school, parking, AND provide local store owners with the regular business we do on a weekly basis? The Exchange District gets a lot of its business from other people who work or go to school in the area. If anything, this will hinder the amount of people they get through the door since it may push people from parking in that area during the day and into stores in a different area with better parking rules.

Students who live in the city that tend to drive to school will likely throw in the keys (towel) and take the overpopulated buses. 

I'm looking forward to what the city takes into consideration when discussing this issue (of greed). 

To view the report from Global News, please click here.