VANOC has Parking issues....

You know some days having a bike is 100% pure benefit - like yesterday.

Yesterday I had to visit Active electronics on the corner of East 1st and Boundary Rd, turns out I had to go back to the store three times to get the right parts.

On trip #1 I notice some of my neighbours had put out these signs on their front lawns


VANOC is located on Gravely Street in the old Glenayre building, they have a lot of cars at their immediate disposal, apparently with inadequate parking, so the VANOC staff have been parking in front of residences and then walking through Charles Park to the office.

On trip # 2 I took my camera and snapped some pics of the signs and the cars parked there. Some obviously from out of province with Quebec licence plates. I talked to a couple of my neighbours having the parking issue with VANOC. No change in the situation even after a few complaints had been made to VANOC. Being the helpful sorta guy I am, I would see what I could do to help.



On trip # 3 who do I run in to ? None other than John Furlong CEO of the 2010 Olympic Games, strolling through Charles Park. Well opportunity strikes more than once - I go do my thing at the store. On my way back I run in to Mr Furlong again - this time I stop and have a conversation, which went something like this:

Ian: Excuse me Mr Furlong, I live in the neighbourhood and some of my neighbours are having problems with your employees parking in front of their homes. Can you do something about it ?
John Furlong: confers with person he is walking with - er yes we shall look in to it and have it sorted [or words to that affect]
Ian: Thank you Mr Furlong, your neighbours would appreciate it.

Obviously many of the VANOC employees have not heard of the bus service we have in Vancouver. Judging by the Audi's and BMW's and assorted larger SUV's floating around my neighbourhood, I think taking the bus for VANOC employees is a bit too green for their tastes. Their location is serviced by the 28 route that runs from Kootenay loop to Joyce Station and their location is only a 10 minute walk from Kootenay bus loop. If the 2010 Games are supposed to be the greenest ever Mr Furlong might want to remind his employees of it from time to time.


Now I don't know if Mr Furlong would even remember talking to me by the time he got back to his office; do you think we will see some positive results ?

I'll be back in a week to let you know....