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Orangeville’s parking bylaw drives people away

November 15, 2016   ·   0 Comments

Dear Editor,

I had the pleasure of working for a brief time recently in Orangeville. I didn’t get a parking ticket.

Orangeville’s downtown seems to have it all – it is compact, beautiful and filled with lovely shops. It also has a parking policy that scares people away.

From the point of view of a visitor, Orangeville appears to have only a  few downtown lots where one may park all day. The ones in relatively convenient locations are filled well before 9 a.m. The majority of downtown parking spaces are designated two hours only, with people in violation risking a fine.

Those who work (and park) downtown tend to regard the fine as a cost of doing business in Orangeville, or go out and move their cars frequently – an inconvenience also regarded as a cost of doing business in Orangeville.

The message to visitors is not,“Welcome to our downtown,” but, “Complete your business and leave quickly, or else! If you want to shop and enjoy lunch, go to a mall.”

Orangeville needs to revisit its two-hour downtown parking policy. One may assume the two-hour limit was designed to ensure visitors have places to park, but it deters those who might want to stay a bit longer than two hours, go for a walk and spend time and money in the many attractive downtown shops.

Pauline Kerr

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