COCHRANE— A $150 parking ticket has spurred a Cochrane resident to challenge the clarity of the town's COLT transit system signage.
Cochranite Laurie Quillian appeared before Town Council at the Monday (Feb. 22) regular meeting to request the cancellation of her $150 parking ticket, a total review of COLT bus stop sign bylaws, restitution of $1,000 for the time and energy spent on the issue and the reimbursement of $150 to every person that has received a parking ticket to date.
"There are issues with the signage— One, it's not visible to the driver ... Two, it's not facing the oncoming traffic. Three, the yellow paint on the curb does not reach or go back to that signage and four the bus runs, by my understanding, Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. so in the fall and winter it does get dark early and there is no way you can see that sign," Quillian said. "For me, I thought that a warning would have been better issued that $150 ticket."
Quillian received the parking ticket on July 16, 2020, for parking in front of the Quarry 5A bus stop. Current Cochrane bylaws forbid parking within five metres of the sign.
Quillian said she was told she had 10 days to pay the fine. Between July 16 and 22 she emailed and spoke to the Town of Cochrane but found no resolution. She also spoke to the man who issued the ticket and was told that because a complaint was made the ticket was necessary and a warning was not possible.
The ticket then went to provincial court after passing the 10-day deadline.
Quillian was set to appear in court on Dec. 18, 2020, but the appearance was delayed due to COVID-19.
At the end of the day, Quillian said, the incident has left her concerned that the COLT transit stop signs are not properly visible, which could lead to others leaving their cars in the no parking zones and facing hefty fines.
She questioned if the signs meet the proper standards of provincial signage.
"It's not only that sign that I'm kind of concerned with, it's these other signs that are out there," Quillian said. "Right now, if you look at the signs ... You just can't see it from the driver's perspective that you're not supposed to park within five metres."
She noted the yellow paint on the curb in front of the bus stop indicating no parking in the area has increased since she first received the ticket.
Town of Cochrane Sustainability and Transit Coordinator Devin LaFleche said after hearing of the complaint there was increased painting to indicate bus stops in no parking areas in the downtown area. The Town has painted 12 downtown and Quarry stops to increase awareness.
The signs were primarily designed for pedestrians taking the bus to be able to see, he said, but the administration can explore if alterations can be made to the design.
LaFleche noted provincial legislation does not refer to public transit signs. The size and design of the signs are in line with other communities including Airdrie, Calgary, Cold Lake, Fort Saskatchewan and Leduc.
"We couldn't go much bigger just due to the fact that there were concerns from our roads team that we didn't want to go too large a sign. It seems to be the standard across the industry," LaFleche said. "These ones are meant to be seen when you get out or you're getting in the information on the COLT sign as well as just knowing you're not supposed to park there."
Since COLT's launch in October 2020 nine bus zone parking tickets have been issued.
Quillian's appearance drew attention to a "very big issue" existing in the community, said Councillor Marni Fedeyko, adding Council will take the complaint seriously.
"I can imagine the frustration if there was nothing indicating you couldn't park there," Fedeyko said. "I certainly have no problem waving the fee of the ticket."
Fedeyko added she was unsure if Council would be able to meet the rest of Quillian's requests.
Town of Cochrane administration will investigate the issue and return to council with further information at a later date for Council will then further debate the merits of Quillian's request.
Mayor Jeff Genung asked the administrative report to include how many other tickets have been issued, the yellow paint on the curb, how parking tickets are generated by Municipal Enforcement and if transit signs meet provincial guidelines.
