Hybrids Saving Some Drivers Steps
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Written by Paul M. Gandee
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Tuesday, 14 July 2009 |
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Many hybrid car owners, who often get tax credits and special use of car pool lanes, are getting another perk: parking privileges.
An increasing number of offices, hotels and others are giving drivers of hybrids free or reduced cost parking or reserved spots closer to entrances, similar to those for the disabled or for pregnant women. They're following at least a dozen cities, which introduced such perks in 2004.
"It really encourages people to buy hybrids," says Maureen Lacey, of Boston University Medical Campus' parking office. She says the medical center's preferential first floor parking for hybrids, begun in 2007, was so popular that in October it doubled to 100 the number of available spaces.
Not everyone is happy about the special treatment.
In Fresno, Calif., some hybrid drivers annoyed fellow residents by parking for free all day in sought after spots, says Del Estabrooke, city parking manager.
"I took a lot of complaints," Estabrooke says, especially from people driving fuel efficient cars. The City Council recently rescinded the 4 year old perk.
Ferndale, Mich., addressed this concern by giving free meter parking to all cars that get at least 30 miles per gallon in city driving, as determined by federal data.
The parking perk reflects broader efforts by governments and businesses to promote energy conservation and healthier living. For example, Boston University's medical center gives preferential parking to carpoolers.
All Kimpton hotels began offering some kind of hybrid parking benefit this year as part of its "EarthCare" program, says Steve Pinetti, Kimpton's senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Some Starwood and Westin hotels also offer free or discounted hybrid parking.
Other recent efforts:
*In Illinois, three Big Bowl restaurants give hybrid drivers free valet parking.
*In California, Lassen Volcanic National Park's visitor center, which opened in September, offers hybrids parking spots closer to the doors.
*In New York state and New Jersey, most of RexCorp Realty's 70 office buildings provide reserved parking for hybrids. "People have been really good about it," says Walt Smith, executive vice president of operations.
*Baltimore gives discounts at city owned garages to only the most fuel efficient hybrids.
In some places, the perks might not even be needed. In Washington, D.C., the Gables Takoma Park apartment complex set aside 15 "preferred" hybrid parking spaces when it opened in September. The spots remain empty. Jared Gigliotti, a manager, says the building is so close to the subway that "we're getting residents with no cars at all."
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 14 July 2009 )
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