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April 3, 2008
Daily News Says 'Kill' the Hybrid Free Parking Program
Photo by Beige Alert via Flickr
Since the perk of giving Hybrid owners a free ride when it comes to Los Angeles city parking meters has been in the news lately, the always fiscally conservative Daily News opined on the issue today: "The right thing is for the council to kill the hybrid car perk."
Even though the estimated losses are little, "a drop in the bucket," they say, the Daily News stays with their editorial theme of believing the city should save money and stop taxing the people: "The city needs every dollar it can get right now. All the better it doesn't come from a new tax or fee or rate hike."
The purpose of the free meter program was to add to the golden pot of encouragements to purchase a hybrid. Not only could hybrid drivers cruise solo in the carpool lane, they could save quarters too. But hybrids are now ubiquitous on city streets, so much, even state Clean Air decals are no longer available. If last Friday's proposal of only allowing decal-laden hybrids use parking meters for free, that goal of encouraging drivers to purchase a hybrid no longer makes sense.
"Now that this goal has been accomplished, perhaps council members ought to congratulate themselves - maybe issue proclamations for one another - and then symbolically end this now-pointless gesture. There's really nothing to study."
Hybrid Catch-Up
-- If you have a Hybrid, this is how you park as of right now
-- City Council Puts a Hole on Free Parking Extension to Further Study the Issue
-- City Council Approves Extension of Hybrid Free Parking Program
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Though hybrids are great (many auto manufactures like to use the "hybrid" tag as a marketing tool when in fact they don't have that much mpg gain), a parked hybrid has the same amount of emissions as a parked Hummer, or a parked '69 Mustang. It's still taking up space.
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Exactly, what perks do bicycle commuters get from the city by using zero emissions?
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I agree, the hybrid free parking program should go. It isn't a big enough perk to convince people to buy a hybrid. I bought a Prius last year and to be honest I didn't even consider the HOV stickers as a major influence in my decision (which is just as well since I was a month too late to that party). The cars are readily available, very reasonably priced, and can be bought on their own merit now instead of incentives like free parking.
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What a bunch of cheap bastards. Just dig deep into your pockets for ten cents, pay the meter and STFU!