[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[BaseballFan]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

You mean this one?

https://www.google.ca/maps/@46.0869287,-64.7781505,84m/data=!3m1!1e3

I'm not 100% sure, but it looks like there has been a "towing warning" sign for some time. I see people sometimes park there for an hour or so at the Saturday market, but I'd not risk it, given this:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@46.0869949,-...3DbDdmuXPRNV92lT2XRxA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Can't be this lot, there's been a gate on that lot for a couple of months now.

[Feneant]

No, im talking 79-161 Robinson St. Parking on the map. It used to have meters for every spot but now there are only a few meters remaining which I found confusing. It also did not have a sign showing as a tow zone unless I missed it. If not that lot then MonctonRad may be referring to the one across the street which is rather large and probably linked to Kini Wellness (on your map again). I think that one does have signage though as it's always empty and I can't remember ever parking there.

[BaseballFan]

Originally Posted by Feneant

No, im talking 79-161 Robinson St. Parking on the map. It used to have meters for every spot but now there are only a few meters remaining which I found confusing. It also did not have a sign showing as a tow zone unless I missed it. If not that lot then MonctonRad may be referring to the one across the street which is rather large and probably linked to Kini Wellness (on your map again). I think that one does have signage though as it's always empty and I can't remember ever parking there.

79-161 Robinson, tucked in to the north of the market, is owned by the City. Hence the meters....I am unaware of any private parking meters in Moncton.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Feneant

No, im talking 79-161 Robinson St. Parking on the map. It used to have meters for every spot but now there are only a few meters remaining which I found confusing. It also did not have a sign showing as a tow zone unless I missed it. If not that lot then MonctonRad may be referring to the one across the street which is rather large and probably linked to Kini Wellness (on your map again). I think that one does have signage though as it's always empty and I can't remember ever parking there.

The booting victim on the radio this morning said she parked on a lot on Robinson Street.

[Feneant]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The booting victim on the radio this morning said she parked on a lot on Robinson Street.

With some of these lots you can't know... but what I do know is that like you I won't be parking on any lot that is not either city owned or has a meter clearly visible.

I don't get why the city allows this extortion.

[BaseballFan]

Originally Posted by Feneant

With some of these lots you can't know... but what I do know is that like you I won't be parking on any lot that is not either city owned or has a meter clearly visible.

I don't get why the city allows this extortion.

That's exactly it....just assume that parking downtown costs money. End of story. If you're parking "for free", you should second guess why.

Fortunately, there is AMPLE parking downtown. It's a 5 minute walk from the subway to the Blue Cross building....and in that span, between parking meters, the Alma garage, Assumption complex, the City Hall lot, and the Blue Cross lot, I've never spent any real amount of time looking for a safe place to park when I head downtown for meetings, lunch, etc. 99% of time I get a meter.

[Nashe]

This must be the one you mean, then:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@46.0872763,-...YzFeVtdzTDSa2hCULTMwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Oct 2016 street view shows meters at pretty much all the spots. Like you said, though, it's possible some have been removed. If that is where she got towed from, there should be signage put up.

Now if it were the lot across the street...

https://www.google.ca/maps/@46.0872763,-...YzFeVtdzTDSa2hCULTMwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I'd say she probably messed up; signage is pretty clear.

[MonctonRad]

I'm so paranoid right now I wouldn't even park at the stalls where there is a parking meter.......

[BaseballFan]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

This must be the one you mean, then:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@46.0872763,-...YzFeVtdzTDSa2hCULTMwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Oct 2016 street view shows meters at pretty much all the spots. Like you said, though, it's possible some have been removed. If that is where she got towed from, there should be signage put up.

Now if it were the lot across the street...

https://www.google.ca/maps/@46.0872763,-...YzFeVtdzTDSa2hCULTMwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I'd say she probably messed up; signage is pretty clear.

Can't be the first one you posted, as you can see in the SNB map, it's part of the City Market property.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by BaseballFan

Can't be the first one you posted, as you can see in the SNB map, it's part of the City Market property.

Oh, I know... it's just that that (79-161 Robinson St) was the address he posted.

[MonctonRad]

Good article on CBC.ca regarding the Boot Nazis

'It all seems very shady': Towing and booting scheme in Moncton raises alarm
Chamber of Commerce calls for decency, bylaw review after drivers forced to pay high fees to 'strangers'
Vanessa Blanch · CBC News · Posted: Nov 02, 2018 4:00 AM AT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-towing-booting-fees-1.4883729

John Wishart of the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce is calling for a review of the bylaw that caps the booting fee at $45. He believes property owners have the right to police their lots, but the city also has to protect its reputation and people who park illegally from being gouged.

[BaseballFan]

So it's clearly the lot outlined above, from the photo in that CBC story. It, and the small lot directly to the north, are the private parking lots for 860 Main, the office building at the corner of Main and Robinson with TD Bank as the main floor tenant.

I feel horrible for that woman being approached at 2am by a man with no uniform or identification. It should not be a wild goose chase to get your car back.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by BaseballFan

So it's clearly the lot outlined above, from the photo in that CBC story. It, and the small lot directly to the north, are the private parking lots for 860 Main, the office building at the corner of Main and Robinson with TD Bank as the main floor tenant.

I feel horrible for that woman being approached at 2am by a man with no uniform or identification. It should not be a wild goose chase to get your car back.

I think that the fees and methods are outrageous.
I also think that it was a dumb move to park in a clearly marked private lot with 24/7 enforced towing signs.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

I think that the fees and methods are outrageous.
I also think that it was a dumb move to park in a clearly marked private lot with 24/7 enforced towing signs.

Nobody is excusing illegal parking, especially if the lot is clearly lit with good signage.

The real problem here is the manner in which enforcement is taking place. It's giving the city a serious black eye and is a public relations disaster for the downtown.

This situation cannot be allowed to persist. We want our downtown to be a vibrant and prosperous area. The predatory boot vultures are a Sword of Damocles hanging over the core and creating a perception in many peoples minds that they are not welcome down there and that they should take their business elsewhere ( like to a suburban big box development with well lit and free parking lots).

Boot Nazis, combined with aggressive panhandlers and vagrants are doing a lot to damage the downtowns reputation.........

[BaseballFan]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

I think that the fees and methods are outrageous.
I also think that it was a dumb move to park in a clearly marked private lot with 24/7 enforced towing signs.

I agree with you on both counts. But.....I think there is a lot of merit in trying to be a good corporate citizen...if you're going to tow, there is a more professional way to do it. As a property owner, the boot protects your lot just as well as towing. Towing in this manner just seems to be a cash grab by the company patrolling the lot as they now see "just booting" as unprofitable.

In ideal world, every private lot would be gated, but the cost can be upwards of $50k, plus the hassle of programming access cards regularly.

EDIT: MonctonRad beat me to it!

[lirette]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Nobody is excusing illegal parking, especially if the lot is clearly lit with good signage.

The real problem here is the manner in which enforcement is taking place. It's giving the city a serious black eye and is a public relations disaster for the downtown.

This situation cannot be allowed to persist. We want our downtown to be a vibrant and prosperous area. The predatory boot vultures are a Sword of Damocles hanging over the core and creating a perception in many peoples minds that they are not welcome down there and that they should take their business elsewhere ( like to a suburban big box development with well lit and free parking lots).

Boot Nazis, combined with aggressive panhandlers and vagrants are doing a lot to damage the downtowns reputation.........

To add to that.. I wish there was some more RCMP presence downtown. I'm not one of those that is ignorant to the need to fix the systemic homeless issues and I feel for many of these individuals, but I've witnessed some of these folks really startling people, theres one man in particular whos quite tall and will often demand people give him a hug, and then begins to argue with people who want no part of it. This is the type of thing that could lead to a person deciding to never go downtown again.

I'm seeing these things occur on Friday afternoons, not at 2am on a Saturday. Having some foot patrols downtown would go a long way to make people feel safer. Especially given that the RCMP HQ is located on Main St. The new avenir centre has had a large police presence since its inception, I've seen as many as 8 officers out front on event days and often 4-5 are walking around the building. They should extend that into the general downtown.

[Nashe]

I don't disagree with any of that. I thought I was saying the same thing.

[Ammn_guy]

A few summers ago they RCMP had a foot patrol that mostly hung around assumption plaza.. it made a big difference.

I agree generally the regular panhandlers are harmless but working downtown you get to know each one of them.. to the point where you know when one is off his meds... and when to avoid them. Most of them are not homeless they just like to hang around. It would be super uncomfortable for people from small town nb not use to this. Its a regular occurance in larger citys. Having the reassurance of a rcmp foot patrol would help.

There was a issue by gifts golore yesterday morning .. and RCMP cars arrived there from all ends of town 5 mins later.. kinda funny as the station is 100ft a way. Our car loving culture extends to the rcmp

It does seem to be a bigger problem towards thrusday, fridays.. not sure why..


For parking, people need to get use to moncton's growth into a bigger city. If you park and your not paying.. its probably not a valid parking spot. Personally though i would boycott any buisness that employs this parking company.. they are not professional.. and as a buisness owner i would never support such a company.

Originally Posted by lirette

To add to that.. I wish there was some more RCMP presence downtown. I'm not one of those that is ignorant to the need to fix the systemic homeless issues and I feel for many of these individuals, but I've witnessed some of these folks really startling people, theres one man in particular whos quite tall and will often demand people give him a hug, and then begins to argue with people who want no part of it. This is the type of thing that could lead to a person deciding to never go downtown again.

I'm seeing these things occur on Friday afternoons, not at 2am on a Saturday. Having some foot patrols downtown would go a long way to make people feel safer. Especially given that the RCMP HQ is located on Main St. The new avenir centre has had a large police presence since its inception, I've seen as many as 8 officers out front on event days and often 4-5 are walking around the building. They should extend that into the general downtown.

[Feneant]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

I think that the fees and methods are outrageous.
I also think that it was a dumb move to park in a clearly marked private lot with 24/7 enforced towing signs.

I'll be the devil's advocate on this one, the parking lot she refers to is pretty confusing. It's the parking for Cinta Ria where the spots against the building are showing as reserved for him. I can see why his patrons would park elsewhere in the lot and make the assumption that they are safe because the lot is right next to the building. It may have changed but some of the parking spots there also had some reserved for TD but that not being a 24/7 type business they used to let people park. I've parked in that lot many times over the last 20 years without issues for Taj, Vien Dong, Rep Pepper and now Cinta Ria. This booting/parking is new and I assume it started once the reserved sign that show in the lot were added.

So yes, she is guilty and I don't think anyone is arguing that fact but it's hard to fault her as we have to get used to changes. I mean if we were all perfect you wouldn't run into the poor sap driving the wrong way in a roundabout

PS- That's not the lot I meant higher up in the page, I meant the one adjacent to that which I believe that is connected to the market. Where every spot there used to have meters last time I only saw meters on the 2 spots next to the road.

[MonctonianSentinel01]

Considering how outrageous these methods are it wouldn't surprise me if they are towing people out of spots where these towing companies have no formal arrangement with the business owner. Maybe the business has no problem with people parking there after hours but the tow truck drives around and says that's not a public parking spot, lets tow it?