"Parking for Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles Only"
So the big news on Long Island, NY was the grand opening of an 800k square foot Tanger outlet mall in Deer Park. It’s infuriating enough trying to negotiate the 20-minute wait to get out of the overcrowded lot. However, the real aggro’s found in the front of the parking lot. Normally, you’d expect spaces reserved for the handicapped. Instead, there are 30-some-odd spots set aside for “Parking for Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles Only” (a la the ‘Expecting Mother’ spots reserved at the supermarket). So who exactly is policing these spots, and what criteria are they using? As you’d expect over half were filled with SUVs. The other half were occupied by emissions-belching early 90s rides clearly driven by store staff who arrived first. Or perhaps in my random sample the H3, Grand Cherokee and ML in the spots are already part of the Pickens Plan strategy for natural gas retrofitting. I don’t know who I want to bite in the arm as hard as I can- the patrons or the mall developer…
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Hi Redbarchetta (and others), Thank you for pointing out the LEED certification. I am not from the world of commercial development; I had no idea of the impetus behind the silly-ass signs. However I can tell you after another visit to the mall no one is adhering to the rule (the only fuel sipper among the 30 spots today was a 2003 Civic). TTAC Best & Brightest to the rescue again!
What exactly is a "fuel efficient" vehicle? What if it's a minivan (or *gasp* Hummer) full of people? They're saving more gas than a Smart with one person. Does my 4 cylinder Subaru count? It only gets 29 MPG (on a good day), but it's fuel efficient for an AWD car, but if I drive it really carefully I can eke out 32.
A local Giant Eagle Express had two of its very few (around 20) parking spaces painted "Hybrid Only" on the asphalt, but SUV drivers would park there anyway, covering their "crime". The pretentious bullcrap was painted over when it was brought to their attention that 10% of their customers were not hybrid drivers.
I have a question. I work for a LEED certified employer and we have designated parking for Fuel Efficient Vehicles and Electric Car Charge Stations. Is there a comprehensive list some place of what LEED considers to be a Fuel Efficient Vehicle or what their exact defination is of a Fuel Efficient Vehicle for LEED Certifed facilities? If so could someone send me the link to this list or defination please. It is utterly remarkable the vehicle you see parked in these designated parking spots...Lincoln Navigators, Tahoes, Ford F150's, Mini Vans etc. We are seeking such information so a parking policy can be addressed and written as obviliously some people cannot be reasonable or logical in their thinking parking their Lincoln's etc in these designated parking spots that are required and expected to be enforced to be a LEED certified facility. Thanks for your help.