I get the need for handicapped parking spots. I might even get "family" parking, or close spots for expectant ladies — but this? This could be the "slippery slope" my dad always warns me about. Some stores are now offering preferential parking for those driving hybrid cars.
Being an eco-avenger behind the wheel lands you closer to the door in Austin, Chicago, and a handful of cities trying out the program. Los Angeles has allowed hybrids (and cars that get more than 45 mpg) to park for free for three years already while Houston flyers with hybrids get to park at airports for free, and New York City is toying with the idea of allowing hybrids to buck the parking meter.
While the jury's out on whether parking perks lead to efficient car purchases, some of the states with plans underway, like Texas, New York, and California, already lead the nation in states with the highest hybrid sales. It might be more of a mental boost than a planetary benefit — the marketing specialist at Houston's Ikea says there's no enforcement on the hybrid-only slots, but people like the spirit of it. It's about promoting awareness. "The company's philosophy is to be green conscious, and we'd like our customers to think that way, too."
What do you think? Right track or what's next!?
Bi La Li
Julia Cocco'
Ash
No, no. A thousand times no.
(OK, now that I've responded to the title, I'll read the rest of the article)
1What's the point of being elitist and superior if you can't flaunt it?
2Eh. On the one hand, it's a private business. They can set aside special parking for whoever they darn well please. On the other hand, it's not really necessary.
I roll my eyes when I see parking for expectant moms or "family" parking and just park there anyways because it's not enforceable and I think it's dumb. (For one thing, pregnant woman are statistically way, way less likely to be getting an appropriate amount of excercise.) The same thing happens in the hybrid spots. The grocery store near me has spots for "fuel-efficient vehicles" and so you see hybrids and other small cars parked there, but it's not enforced so people also park their giant SUVs there.
My favorite preferential parking was a sign I saw at the very back of the lot at the farthest spot from the door that said, "This spot reserved for those who know a little walking is good for you."
3haha torgleson, i like that last sign you mentioned! in terms of this special treatment for hybrid drivers... i don't think getting a good spot at ikea or some other store is enough to make ANYONE run out and buy a hybrid, so whats the point?
4Well, I don't think the point is to get people to drive hybrids. I think the point is to enhance the image of the company.
But you know, people who buy hybrids shoulder an extra initial cost (I think it's around $5,000 on average? Not sure.) for something that benefits them at the gas pump but also everyone by putting less pollution in the air (important regardless of your opinion on climate change). So I think it's fine for them to get a few perks.
Then again, doesn't it seem like hybrid drivers would be less likely to waste gas by driving around in circles looking for the best spot? Maybe we need special parking for Hummers to just get them to turn off their engines as quickly as possible.
5I can smell the smug.
6Maybe we should reserve the spots along the major roads so hybrid owners can show everyone driving by that they are doing their part to save the world. Who cares if it means they have to walk a little further? Aren't hybrid owners also more focused on their health as well?
7There was talk in Chicago about making parking meters free for people with hybrids. I might actually buy a hybrid if this was true.
8"This spot reserved for those who know a little walking is good for you."
I purposely park far back in most lots because I can't stand the congestion further up. Not only that, I can't stand MANY of the Boulder pedestrians... talk about elitist! Seriously they pay no regard to the pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, etc. Very maddening sometimes.
Topic-related, there are many places here that have "preferential" parking spaces for fuel-efficient cars. I love that those spaces are so often left open, but then I end up parking in between two hybrids!
just can't win
9"I end up parking in between two hybrids!" in REGULAR spots.
10"Maybe we need special parking for Hummers to just get them to turn off their engines as quickly as possible."
Torgleson...that just made me laugh out loud. The people in my cubicle-field are really wondering what I'm doing in here
11I AM, however, all for special parking for VIRGOS!
12Lol, I love how you worded the second option.
Citizen, you are on a roll with your polls
today!
13"Well, I don't think the point is to get people to drive hybrids. I think the point is to enhance the image of the company."
EXACTLY! Same with so many companies right now.
14On the one hand, I think this is pretty silly.
On the other, I do think we're in a stage where in order to encourage more people to look into the option of driving a hybrid, it's good to provide some kind of extra perks.
But I know that until I get a new car, I'll be fuming mad every time I'm circling a lot looking for parking, passing the empty hybrid spaces right by the doors and knowing I can't park there
The Trader Joe's/Ralphs/whatever shopping center by where I live has special parking spaces reserved for cops. Which I find odd, because from what I can tell, cops will park wherever they damn well please anyway, even if not in actual parking spaces.
And the parking spaces aren't that close to any entrances.
15It's kind of silly, but I like the idea of giving people more reasons to forgo the gas-guzzler for a hybrid. And if it's only a couple of spots in a whole parking lot, what's the difference? Plus if everyone had a hybrid then there'd be no preferential treatment. And everyone should have a hybrid eventually.
16>"Well, I don't think the point is to get people to drive hybrids. I think the point is to enhance the image of the company."
EXACTLY! Same with so many companies right now.
But, is this necessarily a bad thing? A wine shop near me offers a discount to people who live in the neighborhood and walk to the store. Do people who drive in from nearby have a valid beef with them?
17See, that isn't a problem because they are putting their money where their mouth is. There are so many places that are just jumping on a bandwagon and "raising awareness" while not actually doing anything to make their own companies or products greener.
18"There are so many places that are just jumping on a bandwagon and 'raising awareness' while not actually doing anything to make their own companies or products greener."
That is very true, She-Ra.
19I mean, GS.
20No, I think I would prefer to be called She-Ra from this point hence!
21you bring up an interesting point, GS... that a company like ikea would try to flaunt their green cred when in fact they are contributing to a throw-away consumer culture. ikea does do a lot of great stuff in terms of their production line and waste elimination, etc... but what their customers do with the flimsy stuff they sell is another story - it probably ends up in a landfill within a few years!
22Have you seen Idiocracy? Disposable sponsored clothes even.
23I need to find some YouTube of those She-Ra magical clothes change sequences now...you've got me all nostalgic!
YY, all that ikea stuff wouldn't end up in the landfill so quickly if it wasn't all such flimsy crap!
I mean, a 90-pound woman should not be able to break a chair just by sitting in it.
Of course, if I learned how to read instructions better, that chair would probably still be fine.
24So what you're saying is that not only do you have fingers of death, but you also have As$ of Destruction?
25Old rainbow bright gets me too. I loved her.
26"So what you're saying is that not only do you have fingers of death, but you also have As$ of Destruction?"
I'm like a WMD of office equipment!
(And I henceforth want to be called A$$ of Destruction!)
27In fact.....Ta DA!
28idiocracy is one of my favorite movies - i can't believe i only finally watched it (3 times in a week) about a month ago. it's brilliant. "BRAWNDO: It's Got Electrolytes!"
29RAINBOW BRIGHT!!!
I used to long for magical ponies with multicolored manes!
30So it is written so it shall be done, As$ of Destruction.
And YY, I loved that movie. I got it when it first came out and my husband thought the box looked so campy and cheap. Then we watched it like 3-4 times that weekend. Now he trusts my movie picking judgement.
31Of course, considering my A$$ of Destruction, it's probably better for the magic ponies that I never got one.
32
33I had her car. I would try to put my barbies in it with her, but their legs were too long. So RB always rode solo.
34Peta would have been all over your as$ of destruction if you had. Or at least would have thought about it while posing naked.
35Do I still call you She-Ra, or are you Rainbow Brite now?
36Not just thought, but thought sternly and disaprovingly.
37I'd like to think I'm a little bit of both. With a little bit of Grape Ape thrown in too.
38Then I would just sit on PETA. End of conflict.
39So I'll just call you whatever your avvie is, then, Rainbow Brite
40Aren't you the diabolical one. And cool. What if I put a picture of you as my avie. Would it rip a hole in the space/time continuum?
41And, Mr. Spellcheck down there just taught me there are two U's in continuum. I had no idea. Thank you Mr. Spellcheck.
42Ha! The universe is already buckling under the strain of containing this A$$ of Destruction...I wouldn't risk it!
43I've never fully understood what happens when you tear up the space/time continuum. Does everything just...implode?
One of those things I'd rather not find out firsthand, I guess.
44
45I think we would all appreciate it if you stopped that experiment right away!
46I have just had so many good laughs, my boss thinks I'm crazy. Thanks, Rainbow Brite!
47No problem A of D.
48It looks like my magical pony is talking. And I don't mean a tattoo when I roll my stomach.
49
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