After the Corporation of Hamilton last week announced it is increasing the cost of on-street parking in the city, readers responded with their thoughts, below we print some of them:

Try Park and Ride

I would be interested to know which way the merchants in the city will benefit by discouraging parking on the streets of Hamilton!

If it means that business owners and delivery vehicles will have even more choice of parking than they already have, then I just don't get it.

Also, if we are to be expected to use areas such as Bulls Head car park then I suggest a shuttle service such as the Park and Ride system used in Britain and the States be implemented as a walk from Bulls Head or certain other parking areas to Reid Street any day when the temperature is over 70 is enough to put the most avid shopper off!

Another bright idea ? I don't think so.

SUE GARLAND

Rammed down throats

Despite the reasons given by Corporation of Hamilton this increase has nothing to do with traffic control. Who in their right mind is going over to Bull's Head to park when the only reason they are in town is for an errand?

To say Bull's Head is $5 per day we are talking of city workers, they are not the major ones using vouchers. People that come into Hamilton to conduct business are the main users who only having a short time. Who would park 15 minutes away only to lose 30 minutes of their time just walking to and from parking lot?

If it was to be a deterrent and you don't want people parking then make more loading bays so trucks won't be double parked, but then you would be losing revenue.

Trust me this is another way of ramming increases down our throats. I can only assume that because we can get away with these things that we do them, it is just an extension of what our Government is doing to us, so I guess we either live with it or band together and fight back.

NEWBOLD SMITH

Retailers will suffer

It may have a negative impact on retailers in the long run, as less people will want to come into town to shop due to the increase. Lower income individuals with certain disabilities will also suffer due to the difficulty in walking long distances to their vehicles and higher cost.

Not to say that an increase isn't viable, but there are other avenues.

The person that stated that more people will just pay without vouchers is correct; they know that there is a slim chance that they will have to pay their tickets anyway because parking tickets are rarely prosecuted.

If you increase the amount paid for parking violations and follow through with warrants, you will have more revenue and less offenders. If people are forced to pay their tickets and for the court's time in processing they will comply. It seems a bit out of sequence when you allow offenders to go unpunished and hold the compliant accountable.... Hmm.

HEATHER ROQUE

Senior should go free

I am 85 years old and partially handicapped in as much as I cannot walk more than 30-40yards without having to stop for a rest. Thus parking at City Hall or Bulls Head is out of the question if I want to visit a store or office on Reid Street, Queen Street, Church Street or Front Street.

I live on the edge of the city and my visits there, for a haircut for example, are usually done before 8.am.

When, however, I have to journey into the metropolis during the day time I find that even $1.00 for a parking voucher is exorbitant when my visits rarely extend beyond 15 minutes.

I would suggest that the senior citizen and/or the handicapped should be allowed to park free of charge. At $1.75 I think I will have to allow my hair to grow!!

ANONYMOUS

Simply a revenue booster

It is laughable to increase pay and display prices by 75% under the guise of reducing congestion in the city. This increase will do nothing to reduce congestion within city limits and encourage people to use the parking lots.

This is simply and clearly to boost revenue – nothing else. How else can the Corporation continue use massive, gas-guzzling Dodge Rams with the price of fuel these days? This is another Cracker Jack idea that the Corporation has shoved down people's throats without any forethought.

The sad part is that some people actually believe this massive increase is a genuine effort to reduce congestion. I suppose one doesn't have to drive through the city to get to all but one of the Corporations car parks. Well done Corporation of Hamilton, another public relations bonanza for you!

SEAN MORRIS

300 percent rise

Please don't forget to mention the last increase went from 25 cents to 75 cents not that long ago ... an increase of 300 percent.

CLAIRE SMITH