VICTOR - The controversy over reverse angle parking continues to brew in Victor. Last summer, the city implemented reverse angle parking all the way down main street, and many community members are fed up. They've had two rallies, and the city council took public comment on the issue Tuesday night.
Residents say it's ruining business along main street. And they say that despite studies that show it's safer, that they're convinced it's actually less safe. But the thing that residents are frustrated with the most? They think city officials aren't listening to their plea to get rid of reverse angle parking.
"It seems that the council isn't listening to the community. There's been a huge outcry for reverse angle parking to go away," said Rich Houk.
"I own a business, I would like to put down town Victor. But I won't because of the back-in parking. I'm so against that, it's dangerous," said Carol Goe.
"We've traded one safety problem for another. I hear many times, people don't come to the Playhouse because they don't want to park backwards," said Tom Egbert, owner of Pierre's Playhouse.
"I run a business right off Main Street and I feel like our parking has been clustered because no one wants to park on Main. So my parking stalls are over ran by people who don't want to the parking backing," said Katie Woolstenhulme.
All four of those people own a business and three of them along Main Street, and as you heard, they all want reverse angle parking to go. They all think business is being negatively impacted by the parking situation. And many community members are frustrated with the response they got when bringing issues like these to the city council meeting last night.
"Shove it down our throats. In fact the mayor almost said as much. 'We brought you here to convince what a wonderful idea we've had. And you country people don't really know much. What I was amazed with last night was how many good ideas us country people came up with!" exclaimed Kitchener Head.
"Tourists come through here, they see the way the parking is, they don't know how to park. They don't stop, and they don't visit. They just keep on going," said Tracey Tronks.
And if they do stop, like Las Vegas resident Brett Buckles, they don't exactly park the right way.
"Come down, it's kind of confusing when you see different cars parked all different kinds of ways. I'm so used to parking front way in, so then when I reverse back out, it's kind of hard to see the cars coming, so it's dangerous on wrecking the car," said Brett Buckles.
"Handfuls of signs like this, are now crooked along main street in Victor. Because people have backed into them."
"Standing here in front of Pierre's Playhouse we've got 6 cars parked in the reverse angle parking lot. You can clearly see, 30% of them are confused. Which is one of the issues here. We've got cars parked in crooked, nose in and nose out," said Commissioner Candidate Tony Goe.
City Council members I spoke with said that last night's meeting brought about a new perspective. Those that were in favor of reverse angle parking said that public comment has impacted how they may vote.
"Would you get rid of reverse angle parking and switch back?" I asked council member Brent Douglas.
"Personally right now I think it's a situation that needs to be changed. Right now I would, I would vote in favor in reversing this decision," said council member Brent Douglas.
Douglas says the council went too far in the changes to make main street safer. He says that just getting rid of one lane down main street helped slow traffic down town.
Council member Grant Thompson said, "I'm not necessarily opposed to the way it is, but because of public comment, I'd be willing to change it back if that's the consensus. It's probably safer the way it is, but there might be some inconvenience and business impact."
I also spoke with Mayor Scott Fitzgerald, who says he's come under fire for reverse angle parking. "People say that I voted on reverse angle parking because I wanted a bike lane. I didn't even vote on it, I was mayor at the time, and the city council approved it, not me," said Victor Mayor Scott Fitzgerald.
The mayor wouldn't say whether he wanted to keep or get rid of reverse angle parking.-
Teton County Sheriff Tony Liford says compliance to reverse angle parking is at 95-percent. And he said that it's the out of towners who make up most of that 5-percent that don't comply.
So when will a decision be made on the final outcome? June 23rd. The City Council will have until then to make up their minds. If the council reaches a 2-2 tie, the mayor will cast the deciding vote.
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Backing into a perpendicular space.by TheValinda9,376 views
lmfao reverse-angle parking is so much more efficient and safer, wish they'd put that shit in here. people are so goddamn stupid, learn how to fucking drive.
fledgehog 4 months ago
when did this happen?? man i haven't been home in a while. ( lol 0:52 MD truck goes by :D)
Born2fly5 10 months ago
I don't get it - I can drive stick, and I can reverse angle park. What's so hard about it? Is it just the pain of a new idea, or is it the whole "City Hall can't tell ME what to do!" thing?
JBofBrisbane 10 months ago
yeah, i live here and it is lame. . i didn't mind the road getting thinned down to one lane each way, but a bike path runs along each lane on either side in between the road and where your supposed to reverse park. . . doesn't make any sense and i have consistently seen problems almost every time i drive through town.
bentleyshane 1 year ago