Weekend free parking is now a deal
Free parking on weekends throughout Montreal is now a fact till the end of December. This sprightly Time Out piece says “across the island of Montreal” but I never saw indications that other towns on the island were following suit.
Bill Binns 13:09 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
I’d rather see them give free parking to everyone than to hand it out selectively based on religion.
CE 13:14 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
What the hell are you talking about?
dwgs 13:20 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
Sunday parking has always been free until 1 pm. I believe that is what Bill is referring to.
Kate 13:37 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
Also, parking around synagogues tolerated on Saturdays and holy days.
dhomas 16:52 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
Other than offending some people’s sense of “fairness”, free parking on Sundays or Shabbat affects those same people zero percent. Complain about something that matters, please.
Bill Binns 16:52 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
Don’t forget the ancient festival of the suspension of alternate side parking rules called Purim.
Kevin 19:11 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
Go by suburban churches on Xmas Eve for true madness.
Jonathan 09:38 on 2020-11-15 Permalink
Paid parking was originally ‘invented’ at the request of businesses who saw that people would just park there cars for extremely long periods of time without necessarily buying anything. I think it was in San Francisco.
With paid metered parking you actually have a high turnover which means more customers per parking spot. I think the only effect this will have is limit the amount of parking available per space hour and increase the number of people looking for spaces (both because of the more limited spaces due to less turnover and the increased induced demand from everyone thinking it’s now easier to park). I feel like it’s only going to increase the frustration of those who already have the loudest voice and due a disservice to local commercial streets.
YUL514 16:04 on 2020-11-15 Permalink
When I first heard the city announce the free parking initiative I too understood it as across the City, there was no reference to just downtown. I entered a spot on the parking app and it’s free but I was at Jean Talon Market yesterday and the outdoor parking was free. I assumed their system was down as it often is but now that I think about it they are probably taking part of the “free parking” as well.
Kate 20:20 on 2020-11-15 Permalink
YUL514, it’s the City of Montreal doing this. I’ve seen nothing either way on whether the other municipalities on the island are joining in.