Car2Go customers could face parking restrictions in Calgary

Car2Go is warning customers that Calgary's proposed car share parking policy could make it harder to access vehicles and might drive up costs for members.

A committee of city council will discuss changes to the city's parking policy at a meeting on March 18.

While acknowledging that car share services are desirable and help reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, the city says there have been complaints about car share vehicles monopolizing parking spots on metered streets in some areas of downtown during the day.

In its proposed car share parking policy, the city wants to break up clusters of car share vehicles parked on downtown streets. Currently, those vehicles can be left in any designated public parking zone, either metered or residential.

Under the proposed policy, there would be smaller, designated zones for car share vehicles. The vehicles could still be parked in other zones, but would be subject to any fines for exceeding time limits. 

The policy would also require car share operators to redistribute parked cars if there are clusters of vehicles in the downtown core. 

Car2Go, the most popular car share service in Calgary with 80,000 users, is warning it might have to hike prices if the city restricts parking.

In a letter to members, Car2Go Calgary location manager Jon Wycoco also warns that adoption of the new parking policy will mean vehicles will be less conveniently located in some areas of the city.

Read the City of Calgary's proposed car share parking policy.