By: Amanda Bloye, FW Writer

Toronto is a city recognizable on a global scale.
Each year individuals move or travel to the “big
city” and it’s surrounding suburbs in search of
a dream or a vacation. What they don’t expect
is the nightmare they were about to encounter.
Yes, the prospect of Toronto parking is enough
to wake any individual from even the greatest of
dreams. Here, FW has compiled some tips for
city parking including ways to stay safe, ways to
avoid being scammed and places we’ve deemed
worthy of our seal of approval.

The number one issue plaguing individuals
hoping to park in the city is cost. Each year
as gas prices rise, so do the rates for parking.
Perhaps the worst part of this issue is that all
lot prices are subject to the attendant’s desire
to change it. This means that a lot that costs
$10 to park in on a Monday at 3pm is all
of a sudden $25 on Friday at 7:30pm. Is it
unfair? Definitely. Unfortunately due to the
simple laws of supply and demand, people will
continue to pay ridiculous prices to park. These
circumstances are a sad reality every Torontonian
and commuter alike must face.

The second issue individuals are faced with
when it comes to parking is safety. This not only
involves the safety of your car but also safety
for yourself. When considering places to park
always look for well lit streets or lots that are
well away from the dangers an empty alley can
bring. During the day this may not be an issue
but, come nightfall, you’ll be glad you
took precautions.

One of the best places in Toronto to park is in
a Green P lot. Not only are they available at
almost all of the city’s nooks and crannies, but
they have also been deemed “Toronto’s parking
authority.” Since the Council of the City of
Toronto passed a By-law establishing the Parking
Authority of Toronto in 1952, the bright Green P
has been a savior to those searching through lot
after lot of occupied spaces. The website www.
greenp.com offers several maps of all Municipal
Parking locations, various ways to search for
a specific lot including places of attractions,
common interests and street name, and ways to
make online parking payments. The site also
contains information on how to avoid getting a
ticket and ways to make a payment if you should
receive a parking ticket in a Municipal lot.

If you’re planning to travel to the city and
are staying at a hotel a great place to park is
at the hotel itself. Many large chains such as
the Marriot and Holiday Inn offer competitive
rates for all. The Marriott offers parking at $8
an hour and a daily rate of $30 per day. For
information on Marriott parking and locations
visit www.marriott.com.

A final word of advice for all who are
preparing for the battle of the parking lot would
be to determine three key factors before even
leaving the house. Knowing how much you’re
willing to spend, how far you’re willing to walk
and alternative locations if you can’t get into the
lot you want will turn your day in Toronto
into a dream.