Some Stores Reward Drivers of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles With Choice Parking Spaces
By Scott Doggett August 22, 2008
People with disabilities have long had access to prime parking spaces. Now some stores are setting aside coveted parking spaces for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Ikea has designated hybrid-only spaces across the United States. Home Depot and Office Depot are trying out similar parking perks for fuel efficiency in Austin, Chicago and several other cities.
Some cities are offering free parking to owners of fuel-efficient vehicles or are considering it.
Los Angeles for the past three years has offered free parking to any vehicle with the California Clean Air Vehicle Decal.
The New York City Council has discussed letting drivers of fuel-efficient vehicles park for free at city meters.
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How do you decide what is fuel efficent?
If you just allow hybrids, that means a 20 mpg Yukon hybrid is ok but a 40 mpg Geo Metro or diesel Jetta is not.
Stupidity in the name of enviromental correctness.
Home Depot? A person buying a pickup full of drywall is being much more economical than someone showing up in an economy car to buy some screws. Who should get the better parking spot? I'd even be more accepting (less unaccepting) if Barnes & Noble tried this, but not Home Depot and Ikea. Choosing to penalize their target audience, based on political correctness, is counter productive to their business.
In comments that got wiped out, Scott didn't see anyone as being penalized. I disagree. By giving one party preferential treatment, you are penalizing the other party.
This is discrimination, plain and simple. You don't like the kind of car I'm driving, so I have to park in the back.
I don't really care. that is, I don't think the government should interfere with a private business's decision. If Home Depot does it, I'll shop at Lowes. Let the market drive it.
I'm so sick of all this 'in-your-face' green BS. People are so like cattle - just let the media and the politicians guide them. Tell them how to think.
I'm guessing it'll be about 5 to 10 more years before this foolish climate change hysteria blows over.
fyi - I just encountered my first "Green Parking" spots. I was leaving the NJ shore (LBI) about to drive 2 hours home in my 4wd 8 cylinder Toyota Tundra truck and I decided to stop at the Target for some items. I pulled up and saw these 'green' and empty parking spots. The rest of the lot was pretty full, but there was plenty of parking available in the distance. It took about 2 seconds to figure out what they were, about 1 second to become irritated, and another 3 to park my truck right in the closest green spot.
idiots. what are they going to do, write me a ticket? lol.
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