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Topic |
 Edited by
Ron Paley
Maple Ridge, B.C.
Canada
1434 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2003 : 10:38 PM
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PARKING FEES
DEDICATED
TO MAINTAINING
B.C. PARKS
All revenue from parking fees and the sale of
the annual parking pass will go directly into
providing park services such as operating day use
areas and maintaining trails, picnic facilities,
playgrounds and park buildings.
Regular park visitors are encouraged
to purchase a $50 annual pass,
valid until March 31, 2004,
that will allow parking in all 28 parks
where fees are being charged.
Parking passes are available
at Visitor Info Centres
after May 15, 2003,
or by phoning Discover Camping
at 1–800–689–2025
after May 21, 2003.
604–689–9025 in Greater Vancouver
For park information visit:
wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks
Ministry of Water,
Land and Air Protection
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 adventure seeking, peak-bagging, high-enduring, strong and silent forest gnome
N49°09', W122°47'
Canada
3819 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2003 : 10:50 PM
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Looks like the daily rates at those parks are 3 - $5, so if you're planning on parking in one of the parks for 10 - 15 days this year, it might come in handy to have a yearly pass. It's nice to see that they're putting the money to good use though... kind of a refreshing change
I'd rather be hiking!  |
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Big pack hiker who sleeps with bears in tent and falls on slippery logs
Langley, BC
Canada
7647 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2003 : 11:19 PM
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Be interesting to see if that actually happens. Seen one tax or fee after another that never goes where it was intended.
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 Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5910 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 06:29 AM
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Thanks for the info Ron.Hope you don't mind but I posted it on my web page for the folks coming from out of town.
Russ
No trail is long with good company. |
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Edited by
Ron Paley
Maple Ridge, B.C.
Canada
1434 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 06:42 AM
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No Problem Russ. I will keep everyone posted as the saga continues. Maybe if enough money is raised we can put curbs on the trails, haha.
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Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5910 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 06:47 AM
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That link didn't work as well, it needs the full url.
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
No trail is long with good company.
Edited by - The Hiker on 05/03/2003 06:49:25 AM |
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Coquitlam, BC
Canada
239 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 09:21 AM
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http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/operations/rec_pass/rec_pass.htm
Day-Use Parking Fees
Collection of day-use parking fees at the 28 selected locations on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland will commence May 15, 2003. The daily vehicle fee is $3.00 or $5.00 per vehicle per day.
An annual parking pass, which will allow unlimited vehicle parking in all 28 parks, is available this year at an introductory price of $50.00.
As of May 15, 2003, an annual parking pass can be purchased at the provincial parks listed below and from Visitor Info Centres (Visitor Info Centre contact information will be posted by May 15)
AND/OR
As of May 21, 2003, by calling Discover Camping at 1-800-689-9025 or Greater Vancouver (604) 689-9025.
Please note: the vehicle parking fee at any of the 28 locations will not apply to visitors camping at that park.
Vancouver Island: Daily Parking Rate
(per vehicle per day)
Sales of
Annual Parking Passes at Park Gatehouses
Sales of
Annual Parking Passes
From Park Attendants
Bamberton Provincial Park $3.00
Englishman River Provincial Park $3.00
French Beach Provincial Park $3.00 Yes - as of May 15, 2003
Goldstream Provincial Park $3.00 Yes and at Nature House - as of May 15, 2003
Gordon Bay Provincial Park $3.00 Yes - as of May 15, 2003
Juan de Fuca Provincial Park $5.00 Yes - at China Beach campground
- as of May 15, 2003
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park $3.00
MacMillan Provincial Park $3.00
Miracle Beach Provincial Park $5.00 Yes and at Nature House
- as of May 15, 2003
Montague Harbour Marine Provincial Park $3.00 Yes - as of May 15, 2003
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park $5.00 Yes and at Nature House
- as of May 15, 2003
Ruckle Provincial Park $3.00 Yes - as of May 15, 2003
Sooke Potholes Provincial Park $3.00
Sproat Lake Provincial Park $3.00
Lower Mainland:
Alice Lake Provincial Park $5.00 Yes - as of June 15, 2003
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park $3.00
Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park $3.00
Cultus Lake Provincial Park $5.00 Yes - as of May 16, 2003
Cypress Provincial Park $5.00
Garibaldi Provincial Park (trailheads) $3.00
Golden Ears Provincial Park $5.00 Yes - as of June 15, 2003
Mount Seymour Provincial Park $5.00
Murrin Provincial Park $3.00
Porpoise Bay Provincial Park $3.00
Porteau Cove Provincial Park $5.00 Yes - as of June 15, 2003
Rolley Lake Provincial Park $3.00
Sasquatch Provincial Park $5.00
Shannon Falls Provincial Park $3.00
Share in the fun and savour the moment. |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
18 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 12:14 PM
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There are a number of places now removed from my "to do" list. I am certainly going to miss Golden Ears and Garibaldi.
I guess Gordo and his affluent, elitist crowd will enjoy a new solitude, where us cheapskates now refuse to go (and pay).
Maybe alternative access will work for me -(ie. a longer walk - or - bike to the trailhead).
I suppose next comes the "hiking licence" fee!
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Rmd, BC
Canada
1360 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 12:52 PM
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Well this probably won't be a very popular opinion but I was thinking a lot about this as a trudged endlessly through the trees down the trail from Black Tusk last weekend.
Obviously money for parks is being cut left right and center. Personally, I would have no problem paying an annual user fee...say up to $100 per family... $25 per person to use BC Parks. Overnight camping fees etc. would be additional obviously.
If you can't afford it, you have to volunteer one day a year which would be used for anything from trail building, to maintenance, to painting lines in parking lots, whatever. If you can't afford the annual pass but still have time to use the parks then you have one day of your life to work in the parks.
This would generate revenue AND a labour source. 60% of British Columbian's use BC Parks every year. That's 2,400,000 people. Lets assume that 60% of them are under 18 and we won't charge for kids. That still leaves almost a million people. Lets assume that 25% of them can't or won't pay. That leaves 750,000 people paying $25 so it would bring in $18,750,000 a year and we'd have a pool of up to 250,000 volunteers to call on to help maintain the parks.
I'm not sure how they're coming up with their numbers but with the new parking pass/fees, the government says that the parks system will receive about 2 million. So either my plan is way better, or my math is way off, or most of the money generated from the new parking pass is not going to be used within the Parks.
http://www.mountaingirl.net
The Mountains are calling and I must go. ~John Muir
Edited by - Spidergirl on 05/03/2003 12:53:08 PM |
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Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5910 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 12:55 PM
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Know how you feel, but you don't want to give him any ideas !!
"Backcountry Pass" $200 but first you must pass a B.C.Gov examination.
I remember going over to Long Beach on the cheap. I had not been there in awhile and we found everywhere it was $5.00 to park.I talked to a number of very ticked off tourists that were caught by surprize by this.I can't print the comments here as this is a family page!!
With all the world problems and airline traffic way down we should expect a good year for visitors. Lets hope the spin doctors get the word out to our friends in the U.S.,Alberta, Sask,and Europe.This may have been inevitable and I don't have all the facts to launch a rant.
Lets just hope they do a better job of getting the word out and perhaps they can do something for the large number of single parent familys that can only afford to take their kids camping.This is going to be an extra burden on them that they don't need.
No trail is long with good company. |
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Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5910 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 12:59 PM
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Good idea spidergirl , but I'm still pissed for the low-income familys and think this is one more kick they don't need.
No trail is long with good company. |
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Rmd, BC
Canada
1360 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 1:38 PM
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I absolutely agree... low income families should not have to pay the same as everyone else. That's why my plan works so well. If you cannot afford the fee, or if you are just fundamentally opposed to it, you may be called upon to help out in a park. I would never want to deprive any child of the experience of spending time in BC Parks. But at the end of the day, it costs money to have parks so if you can't pay, I think its only fair that you contribute in some other way. Poverty groups would burn me at the stake for this I suppose.... "oh the shame... the humilliation!" Personally, I think its more shameful to take handouts when you have the opportunity to make a difference and actually contribute something. I better stop now while I still can...
http://www.mountaingirl.net
The Mountains are calling and I must go. ~John Muir |
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Grouse Grinding, GPS carrying, lawn chair packing, bike riding North Shore tech addict who stares at Crown Mountain from his office window all day
North Vancouver
Canada
1905 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2003 : 5:26 PM
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I wouldn't mind the park fee if I knew it was going to the parks, just as I would mind the gas taxes if the revenue actually went to maintaining the roads, not general revenue.
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Heavy gear-carrying camera-toting asylum escapee
Victoria, BC
Canada
338 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2003 : 3:03 PM
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Sounds like a good plan to me too, Spidergirl. I too would be willing to spend for an annual pass if I knew that the money would go to the parks. Its too bad that we can't trust the BC government to do with the money we give them what they say they will do.
Nathan
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232 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2003 : 9:30 PM
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"Be interesting to see if that actually happens. Seen one tax or fee after another that never goes where it was intended."
Something to think about:
BC Parks has turned over to a facilitator (private contractor) ALL areas within one km of all roads in Parks land (front country parks area) .......do you think the private contractor will give the parking money to Parks to do trail work?.....if you do, you better give your head a shake..........think about it.....why would a private contractor give away the money Parks said they could get, since the contractor couldn't charge any money without an order in council from the BC Government?.......BC Parks say's "there is going to be a charge to park your vehicle in the trail heads" .....we all moan and then say "yes" because they say "It's going to BC Parks"....they are right, but it's going to a private contractor who is working for BC Parks. Do you think the private contractor will put any money they have collected outside the one km boundry (trails)?....if you do...you had better give your head another shake.
"I remember going over to Long Beach on the cheap. I had not been there in awhile and we found everywhere it was $5.00 to park.I talked to a number of very ticked off tourists that were caught by surprize by this.I can't print the comments here as this is a family page!!"
I suggest you talk to some of the horse people down south of the border, for they have the same system on some of the wilderness horse trails down there. Their biggest problem was how to collect the money and they put up honor boxes........which were immediately shot up/down....you gotta love the gun laws down south.
We have been around 5 - 10 or more years behind the US in these kinds of money grabs......and other things.
Check the websites......if you don't believe that all front country areas haven't been turned over to a private contractor.
Maybe they should change the name of BC to Privateer......BC Hydro,
BC Ferries, & the Coke (sp)
Want to know who the biggest private contractor in the Lower Mainland/ Cultus/Manning/Skagit area is?.......for your info.....ALL contractors had to increase their areas to keep their contracts with BC Parks this year.........but if you dig into it.......NONE that's right NONE of them worry about anything over one km off a road.......food for thought.......how much money do you think BC Parks are spending on backcountry trails this year, with what little budget they have?
If you belive the parking fees are going to keep your trails open, give your head a real good shake.............and maybe, just maybe you will see the bright light that Wino Gordon doesn't want you to see....don't get me wrong, I voted Liberal.......but not for the Liberals.......only to get the NDP out......sorry to bring politics into a out doors users group.
I have been involved with BC Parks for going on to 7 years, when the old timers told me what was going on, I didn't believe it.....now I do.
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Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5910 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2003 : 03:27 AM
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That's why I like Spidergirls plan! It may be the only way the work will get done.I almost lived at Golden Ears park for 12 years and seen a great deal of changes when they went to a private contractor to look after the camping area and roads.They even had some young guys that took on the roll of policemen when they were given the rights to do so. Only trouble was that the people that hired them didn't realize they were little more that thugs!!! I heard many sad tales from long time campers & hikers from the Maple Ridge area.
Ron Paley knows a fellow by the name of Jeff Such who had looked after
Golden Ears for a long time for B.C. parks. When Ron gets back from his trip I'll ask him if he can get Jeff's views on the matter.
I have a feeling this whole thing is going to be watched very closly by a huge number of people.You know the old saying " Money Talks Bull** Walks" ... The tourist industry should be keeping close tabs on "Old Gord" and screaming like hell if revenue drops because of this.Isn't it nice we live in a democracy, where we can vote of stuff like this.
I don't know about the rest of you but I make a pretty good wage and pay one hell of a lot of taxes on my income every year, not to mention the hidden taxes like pst.,gas,alcohol,....I still say hats of to spidy for a good solution. Hummmm maybe it's time we had a woman in office???
No trail is long with good company. |
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opinionated-stove huggin'-fleece wearin'-arse burnin' hill virgin
Here
Canada
4642 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2003 : 03:52 AM
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What's to keep these private park contractors from raising the prices next year or the year after that? Where's the accountability for maintenance (If I'm paying to use the park, they had better be maintaining the trails)? Why am I paying a parking fee to visit a park down here when there isn't a fee outside of Vancouver Is. or the lowermainland? Is it cheaper to operate provincial parks trails elsewhere?...if so, let's hire their park management companies for down here too!
Bottom line, IT'S A MONEY GRAB! and nothing more.
Sorry, I don't prescribe to that Leona Helmsley elitist viewpoint of "let the poor do all our forced labor". Those parks have already been bought and paid for and public lands should have unfettered access.
See you on the mountain!
Edited by - Hiker Boy on 05/10/2003 04:05:19 AM |
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Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5910 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2003 : 04:22 AM
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Sure it's a money grab HB and it's another one he got by us.
Time to go into "Stealth Mode " for camping and hiking!
I'm digging out the camo !!!
No trail is long with good company. |
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opinionated-stove huggin'-fleece wearin'-arse burnin' hill virgin
Here
Canada
4642 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2003 : 04:45 AM
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I'm all for a little stealth camping! I'm right behind you there, my Hilleberg Akto has got to be green rather than red!
See you on the mountain! |
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Road raging trail blazer
Surrey, B.C.
Canada
1722 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2003 : 09:24 AM
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Sigh....I can barely make ends meet now. Ever since Gordo and his clan took over, I have to keep giving up things to be able afford other things.
Like the rest of you, I spend a lot of time in parks, and I would be happy to join the ranks of people who help maintain them. The parking fee does seem like just another tax grab.
At least when we carpool to hikes, the cost will be shared.
PS. Love the new camo look, Russ.
Edited by - bikerider on 05/10/2003 09:28:02 AM |
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232 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2003 : 1:09 PM
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For: The Hiker
"Ron Paley knows a fellow by the name of Jeff Such who had looked after Golden Ears for a long time for B.C. parks. When Ron gets back from his trip I'll ask him if he can get Jeff's views on the matter."
Sorry to say but Jeff Such is no longer working for Parks. From Golden Ears he was transfered to the Skagit Area but with all this down sizing in Parks, he took early retirement last year. I worked with him doing trail clearing work in the Skagit and am very sorry to see him go.
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BC Parks Annual Pass for Parking
