Police crack down during Oilers playoff games
Measures meant to manage crowds, but some fear businesses may suffer
Parking on certain stretches of Jasper and Whyte Avenues on Oilers game days could cost you as much as $200 in tickets and towing fees, city officials say.
Edmonton police and city staff outlined details Tuesday of a parking ban that has seen 56 vehicles towed since the start of the team’s post-season run.
The ban, put in place at the start of the playoffs, covers Jasper Avenue from 100 Street to 109 Street, and Whyte Avenue between Gateway Boulevard and 109 Street.
City and police officials said they need to restrict parking to reduce congestion and manage crowds. But some worry about the impact on businesses.
“The city still needs to function (during games),” police acting superintendent Gary Godziuk told a news conference Tuesday at the corner of Whyte Avenue and Gateway Boulevard.
The goal is to “reduce some congestion, allow the city to function, and allow fans to move freely,” he said.
Brian Murphy, the city’s general supervisor of parking management, said staffers will begin placing hoods on Epark machines at 3:30 p.m. on game days. The ban takes effect at 6 p.m.
Teams of four bylaw enforcement officers will patrol each street, with up to 20 tow trucks on call.
Twenty-eight vehicles were towed on each of games 5 and 6, according to city statistics. Bylaw officers handed out 39 tickets on Whyte and 20 on Jasper on April 20 — a 4-3 overtime win at home — and 64 on Whyte and 30 on Jasper
… There was a bit of uncertainty about how many people were going to come downtown and where they would be.
the day of the series clincher in San Jose.
Erin Blaine, with the city’s parking enforcement service, said similar bans are in place during Canada Day celebrations.
The fine for parking in a prohibited zone is $75, while offenders can expect to pay at least $120 in towing fees, she said.
Heather Workman, a city council candidate in Ward 8, was concerned the ban could affect bars and restaurants along Whyte Avenue. She said the no-stopping zones could affect everyone from people with mobility issues to parents picking up a kid who partied too hard.
“A lot of the businesses on Whyte Avenue are going to suffer from this parking ban,” she said.
Downtown Business Association executive director Ian O’Donnell said they’d heard “a little bit of everything” from member businesses on the ban.
“We certainly don’t like to prohibit or ban parking where we can. It’s taking away easy and convenient parking for people in front of their business,” he said.
“But we can appreciate that we’re hosting major events downtown, and there was a bit of uncertainty about how many people were going to come downtown and where they would be,” he added. “The city took a very risk-averse stance, hence the bans on Whyte Avenue and downtown.”