The City of Vancouver is exploring whether to bring in city-wide residential parking permits – with extra charges if the vehicle is a gas guzzler..The plan is part of the city’s efforts to encourage people to buy electric vehicles, free up street parking and use the space to build larger sidewalks or parks. They also want to stop emissions from vehicles endlessly circling the block in the hope of finding a space..“In general, residents would need a permit to park on the street. Permits in new zones would have a low base rate, with additional fees for polluting vehicles built after the program comes into effect,” says Vancouver’s Shape Your City plan..“(The plan would) support safer streets and cleaner air by reducing driving in circles looking for parking”.The city estimates to cost would be less than the $40 a year than the ones currently being used in existing permit zones..“A carbon surcharge would be added to the base cost for new gas and diesel vehicles. It would only apply to new vehicles manufactured after the new rules are implemented,” the proposed policy states..“Higher fees would be intended to encourage people purchasing new vehicles to choose zero emissions options if possible. .“The intent of the surcharge is to encourage people who are buying new vehicles to choose efficient ones, if there are clean options available to them in the market. It is not intended to punish people with older cars.”.Profits from the permits would be used to fund city climate emergency actions..Council is expected to make a decision on the issue by the end of summer 2021..Residents can have their opinions known on the issue in a city survey..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
