Car2go to Toronto city councillors: let our customers park overnight

Ride sharing service car2go is back at Toronto city hall urging council to allow its customers to park itscarsovernight on neighbourhood streets, just six months after councillors rejected a similar request from the company.

Late last month, after trying and failing to get council to establish new parking regulations for shared vehicles,car2gowent ahead with a plan to allowday-time street parking while it works on a long term solution.

The company now allows its customers to park its cars on the street as long as they adhere to the rules as they're laid out on parking signs. Before, car2go required its usersto park the cars at Green P parking lots or in designated car2go parking spots around the city.

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"I think they are coming right up to the edge of the rules without crossing it," said Coun.Stephen Holyday, whosits on council'spublic works and infrastructure committee. That committeerejected car2go's request for overnight street parkinglast November.

Right now,car2gotracks how long a vehicle has been static and will send out a mover to relocate it before it can beticketed.

"I don't have a problem with anyone driving a car2go, parking their car and following the signs as long as they adhere to that three hour by-law," Holyday told CBC News.

What the ride sharing serviceultimately wants from the city isa universal permit allowing its customers to park the company's 430smartcarsovernight on residentialstreets similar tothe permit the company has in cities like Montreal and Vancouver.

But Holyday, thecouncillor forWard 3 in Etobicoke,doesn't want to take spaces away from homeowners.

"We've got residents coming in looking for a front yard parking pad because they are so frustrated looking for a parking spot."

However,car2go regional director Nick Hill,who is meeting with city councillors this week, said overnight street parking isthekind of convenience that encourages more people to use the service instead of owning a carfreeing up parking spaces.

"To maximize our technology is to ensure our users can park where they work, live and play and not be restricted to dedicated parking areas spread broadly throughout town."