Date: Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Subject: Osawa GO Parking
To:cj@thiscrazytrain.com
Hello. I am one of those park donkeys asspeople you have photos on your blog. I also do island parking and I do island parking because when I come to take my train in the morning, I am leaving when it's over rush hour and sometimes I have no choice but park on the curb island. But yesterday I did not have to do island parking but when coming back to my car I noticed white car on the island and I noticed that writing was on the windshield. I would think someone thought it funny to tell the person who owns the car that no parking is supposed to be there. WE KNOW. I also noticed that on the other lot where the Chrysler sales place is, a bulldozer machine is parked in a space. Why? Does someone drive the bulldozer from home to Osawa to take the train? So that's why I do island parking sometimes because GO needs to create more spots and not let bulldozes be allowed to park!
Sincerely,
Pony
17 comments:
Does anyone else smell alcohol when reading Pony's email?
It's semi incoherent, then perfectly coherent and then not so coherent.
I really don't know what solution GO can come up with. Most of their lots are overflowing and ridership seems to be growing exponentially. With the price of gas and parking downtown being expensive/non-existent it's not surprising.
You know that big parking garage that Whitby now has? Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to start building similar structures in Ajax, Pickering and Oshawa as well as every station in Brampton.
I think it was TomW who posed the following: how many people who drive to the stations can actually take the bus?
I can but I also do daycare drop off. However, come next Spring, guess who will be riding the bus? Every day.
Double the crazy.
I can't see adding the local transit to my commute. It's already an hour and a half, one way, after adding up driving, train/bus, and subway from Union Station.
Using the local transit would be another half an hour on top of that.
No, if the parking lot fills, I'll just have to go catch an earlier train and let the desperados duke it out for the later ones.
Hey, They are adding a parking garage in Ajax. Unfortunately, it is closer to the Super 8 than the Station, so I doubt this will actually solve the problem. Especially in the winter.
@ Anon -
Parking garage is actually going to be beside the tracks, close to the forest.
http://www.townofajax.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=9292
Plus ne parking lot byt he super 8
My only problem witha parking garage - try getting out of it during rush hour, I'll bet I could walk to new lot by the super 8 before a good majority of people even get out of the tiered garage.
I park on the curb sometimes. I also sometimes drive over the curb to get out of the Oshawa lot. Which begs the question, why is there not a third exit at the northwest end? Divide the bus lane with a concrete median and maybe some of us can get home in 10 minutes rather than 20 minutes.
@ Al:
I heard they didnt have enough money to build the parking garage in Ajax, which is why they are just building an extra lot (close to the Super 8) as opposed to where the garage was supposed to have gone (beside the Kiss N Ride).
Let's hope that sucker is ready by fall, although I doubt it. It's enough of a hike parking in the upper lot, never mind one even further, but at least it's extra parking which we are certainly in need of.
I did bring up the bus issue... there are people who live too far or have other issues that make taking the bus impractical, and they need to drive.
However, I would bet that at least 75% of people who park could take the bus instead without adding unduely to their commute. Don't forget that most agencies in the GTA (except the TTC) have a co-fare agreement so you only have to pay 50-75c per bus ride, rather than full fare. (This is done automatically with Presto).
Alternatively, car pool. If everyone shared a ride, we'd have half the traffic. (Plus, the $70/month fee for reserevd parking looks a pretty good deal split three ways.)
@ Al:
According to all the posters around the station, the parking (garage or not) is by the Super 8, behind the expanded bus parking/turn around. I think originally there was supposed to be a garage by the tracks (Feb 2010), but it has since changed.
AL = red faced.
Apparently town of Ajax failed to update thier plan website,
Upon review of my link it shows construction was to begin in december of this year, clearly that isnt happening,
I usually manage to get a spot in the upper lot but even since 6 months ago, while arriving at nearly the same time every day there are fewer and fewer spots left.
More Parking is definately required.
I saw some turd recently (a few times now) park and get into a waiting car, It's not a carpool lot for god's sake.
why is the solution to get to the GO station by car only? Why don't you take the bus, bike, or take public transit. If your excuse is that you come too late to get a spot then come early, don't blame GO and tell them to build more parking garages or widen the lot. That's the craziest thing I've heard because if you have that attitude then you might as well drive all the way downtown (or wherever you are going).
I'm sure you will reconsider your options once you get a ticket.
Mister Pony,
That was my bulldozer.
I'll care you not to judge, but that's just how I roll.
My drive to ajax is about 4-5 minutes. sure I could take the boss, it's practically just outside my door. on the way to worki it's a great option. it drops you off right at the station. coming home, however, is another story. I am on the end of the route and it takes forever by the time I get home. It adds probably an extra 20 minutes to by home commute.
also I go to the gym directly from work 4-5 days a week, which I pass on my way home from work. So #1 I am not lugging around a huge gym bag to and from work #2 I am not going all the way home, taking forever onthe bus, grabbing mygym bag and going back out again.
Plus i get to the station at 7a and there is still tons of parking there. and if the lots start to get busier I will catch an earlier train.
oh and another issue I have with the bus is the odd time the trains are a bit late coming into the stations, the buses dont wait for you! so you're stuck hanging around 30+ minutes for the bus - adding like an hour to my evening commute - no thanks.
re: That was my bulldozer.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HAH AHAHA HAHAHA HA HAHAHA !
@Donna
Are you sure you want to take the boss?
lol well my boss is just outside my door at work :)
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