The Editor:
As a long time resident, I have seen parking costs increase on a regular basis.
And while I don't enjoy the extra cost, I do appreciate that funds are required to pay for all the "things" in the budget.
What I really don't understand is how the City decide that the Passport app was the way to go.
Having to buy parking in 30-minute chunks feels like a bit of a money grab.
I recently went out for dinner. It was 6:15 p.m. and I had to buy two hours of parking rather than one hour and 15 minutes only needed.
I have also experienced times when I only need a couple of minutes to pop in to the bank or store and there is no option of paying for that time only.
I am sure that plenty of people just opt to not buy parking.
Today was the topper, however. I paid for parking on 6th Street and discovered as I walked to the restaurant that I didn't have to pay until 12 noon.
I believe that the app should not have let me pay for time I didn't need to pay for.
I have parked at meters in both Burnaby and Vancouver and you are able to pay for the specific time you need and it will tell you if you are paying for time when you don't need to.
There must be other companies they could have contracted to.
- Margaret Cormier, New Westminster
