Parking authority balancing safety with flood repair

Calgary Parking Authority crews are back on regular patrols in floodhit neighbourhoods — but are only handing out tickets for potential safety infractions and showing leniency to trades vehicles.

Miles Dyck, the authority’s manager of parking enforcement, said officials are using discretion when it comes to potential infractions in time-restricted and residential permit zones in flood-affected areas.

“If we come across well-marked contractor vehicles that may not have a residential parking permit on it, we are giving that vehicle the benefit of the doubt and not issuing a tag,” Dyck said.

“However, we are issuing tags for all safety-related violations, and in handicap zones.”

Potential causes for getting a ticket include parking in no stopping zones or too close to a stop sign, and blocking fire hydrants, crosswalks and driveways.

Dyck said the authority is willing to relax the rules, but must still offer a measure of enforcement.

“It’s simply to ensure emergency vehicles have access to all areas of the city, and users of the roadways, whether they be motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, have good visibility when they’re approaching all intersections.”

The lenient approach does come with challenges. As the cleanup goes on, some residents may become increasingly frustrated with the contractors taking up parking on their streets. And contractors who don’t have well-marked vehicles, and are ticketed even though they’re working on homes and hauling heavy equipment, may feel put out.

“It’s a challenge, for sure. We’re getting calls from both directions — people telling us to enforce, people telling us not to enforce. We’re just trying to navigate as best we can.”

Dyck said people can file complaints online and Calgary Parking Authority will review the ticket.