Meter parking temporarily suspended in City of Vancouver

The City of Vancouver is making changes in its parking restrictions in an effort to support essential workers and frontline staff.

In a statement to Daily Hive, the City of Vancouver says it is “responding to the changing demands for parking” by temporarily suspending enforcement for the following:

• Metered parking
• Rush-hour zones
• Residential permit-parking zones
• Parking time limits, including three-hour parking restrictions

With Vancouverites doing their part to stay home as much as possible, the city says both “traffic volume and parking demand have dropped significantly.”

“At the same time, many essential workers, including healthcare professionals, are working longer and more frequent shifts. The suspension of these parking-enforcement services will support the people who are working hard to keep our community safe and healthy,” the release stated. 

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In order to ensure frontline workers have access to these parking spaces, the city is asking residents to avoid street parking if they have off-street options.

“This will open up spaces for the people who put themselves at risk every day to keep others safe and the city functioning.”

The city is reminding residents that these temporary changes are not applicable to all parking spots, as enforcement officers will continue to monitor the following:

• Parking in spots designated for people with disabilities
• Safety violations (e.g., parking too close to a crosswalk, intersection, or fire hydrant)
• Impeding the movement of others (e.g., blocking a driveway or lane)
• Special zones that must remain open for other purposes (e.g., goods-delivery loading zones, bus zones and bus stops, passenger pick-up and drop-off zones)

Province suspends pay parking at all BC hospitals, health authority facilities

Pay parking will be also suspended at all BC hospitals and health authority owned and operated facilities, the provincial government announced on Monday.

“In an effort to reduce COVID-19 transmission, we are suspending pay parking for the patients, staff, and visitors at all health authority owned and operated sites. Effective April 1st until further notice,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix, in a press conference on Monday.

Dix added the change makes it easier for individuals to avoid touch screens and buttons on parking kiosks and will support physical distancing measures mandated by the province.