SOEC will be busy!

[MAPearce]

Coming from Kelowna for the concert last night ( actually we came Friday) , the wife and I expected chaos . We stayed at the Ramada so parking wasn't an issue for us as we just walked despite the winter weather . We ate early to avoid line ups , dressed for the weather and went out with the idea that it'd be crazy busy..

We had a blast . No problems because we planned ahead .

I guess that's the point....

[twobits]

Coming from Kelowna for the concert last night ( actually we came Friday) , the wife and I expected chaos . We stayed at the Ramada so parking wasn't an issue for us as we just walked despite the winter weather . We ate early to avoid line ups , dressed for the weather and went out with the idea that it'd be crazy busy..

We had a blast . No problems because we planned ahead .

I guess that's the point....

And a Point well taken. Unfortunately, Penticton residents in general do not reside in a place as close as the Ramada and are able to walk to the venue. Given the absence of viable public transit and the unlikelihood of a Penticton resident also buying a room at the Ramada in a town they live in.....what kind of planning do you suggest they make?

[Nooby]

Yes, not everyone has viable options. Based on all the warnings about this weekend, we were able to 'plan' accordingly. We're not close enough to walk (although probably in nice weather I would do so) but we're lucky that we live close enough that cab fare is basically = parking fee and also that casino shuttle route works out well for us. But that's definitely not the case for all Penticton residents so they need to do something to fix this.

Great concert, we had fun too

[wanderingchef]

Hey Twobits...... Ever heard of a cab? All you have to do is call and they come pick you up and drop you off where you want to go. It really is incredible.
Here are some other options:
1) Carpooling. You can get more than just one person in a car (I know crazy eh) then you just find a parking spot either in the parking lots provided or close by.
2) Ride a bike. There are plenty of places to lock your bike up outside the Community centre or SOEC. All you need is a decent bike, a good lock and a decent set of lights to make sure you are seen while riding to and from.
3) Ask a friend. Most people have friends who would not be going to the same events for whatever reason. Perhaps simply asking for a favour would score yourself a ride. You can always pay your friend back with a return favour in the future.

Crazy concepts I am sure but possible granted your a normal human being.

[wanderingchef]

Nooby,

Just to be clear...... What distance is not close enough to walk?

I just want to get a sense of how lazy you are....... Plus, why does fall weather make your willingness to walk shrink even more? Don't own a decent jacket?

[RupertBear]

We've attended a number of events in and around the SOEC and casino in the past couple of years and have never had an issue with parking. In the most recent, there were events at the SOEC and the Trade and Convention Centre, along with a weekend crowd at the casino. The furthest away we had to park was in the former bingo hall parking lot, but even that is not a long walk in the overall picture. We found the earlier we arrived, the closer we got to park to the event.
Yes, we car-pooled with friends. No, we have not had to pay a parking fee yet.

[my5cents]

Coming from Kelowna for the concert last night ( actually we came Friday) , the wife and I expected chaos . We stayed at the Ramada so parking wasn't an issue for us as we just walked despite the winter weather . We ate early to avoid line ups , dressed for the weather and went out with the idea that it'd be crazy busy..

We had a blast . No problems because we planned ahead .

I guess that's the point....

My wife and I also attended. Like you we planned ahead. We live in Summerland, so it's sorta out of the question to stay overnight in Penticton.

We made (months ago) reservations at the Vault (the restaurant at the SOEC), arrived early and found a virtually empty parking lot on Eckhardt just West of the SOEC (where the hockey dorm was planned to be built).

In leaving we did notice, in that it was raining, that pedestrian (likely you and your wife) were taking there life in their hands crossing Eckhardt, in the rain and heavy traffic.

From where the SOEC is located in relation to the Ramada, not many would remotely consider walking to the light at Westminster or back to Power Street/Channel Parkway.

Penticton is ready for some post event traffic control, before someone is run down.

[southy]

Thanks for that info and reminder My5cents. The pedestrian issue you mention is just one of the issues that is created by lack of parking on a busy night. If I take Wanderingchef's suggestion they in themselves create even more problems:

1. Carpooling: Hummm let me send out an email to see who is attending this concert and see if we can catch a ride with them? However, you still have to get there and find parking? Then you have to try and escape said parking area after the event. I would rather have my own independence on how I get there and leave rather than relying on someone else.

2. Yuppers - I'll just put the wife on the handle bars, skirt up and peddle my *bleep* through traffic, rain and pedestrians. What do you mean I can't have more than one beer? I can ride a bike after 6 beers. (kidding of course). And yup I'll find somewhere close by to lock my bike up. Sure I will. Then afterwards I will again put the wife on the handle bars, skirt up and peddle my *bleep* as I try not to get hit by vehicles leaving the SOEC area. Light on my bike? What light.

3.I don't have friends ( well I do) but I wouldn't bother then on a Saturday night to play chauffer for my and my wife. Oh and by the way can you stop by at around 11 tonight and pick us up to? Give me a break.

There are issues with regard to parking at the SOEC Complex plain and simple. It is my hope that the City addresses this sooner than later. If nothing is done we won't just be a wandering chef, hell we'll all be wanderingaimlessly trying to find our vehicle and how to get out of the parking lot.

[MAPearce]

Coming from Kelowna for the concert last night ( actually we came Friday) , the wife and I expected chaos . We stayed at the Ramada so parking wasn't an issue for us as we just walked despite the winter weather . We ate early to avoid line ups , dressed for the weather and went out with the idea that it'd be crazy busy..

We had a blast . No problems because we planned ahead .

I guess that's the point....

My wife and I also attended. Like you we planned ahead. We live in Summerland, so it's sorta out of the question to stay overnight in Penticton.

We made (months ago) reservations at the Vault (the restaurant at the SOEC), arrived early and found a virtually empty parking lot on Eckhardt just West of the SOEC (where the hockey dorm was planned to be built).

In leaving we did notice, in that it was raining, that pedestrian (likely you and your wife) were taking there life in their hands crossing Eckhardt, in the rain and heavy traffic.

From where the SOEC is located in relation to the Ramada, not many would remotely consider walking to the light at Westminster or back to Power Street/Channel Parkway.

Penticton is ready for some post event traffic control, before someone is run down.

We went to the casino early enough and stayed in SOEC chatting with friends long enough for human traffic to ease , then went back to the casino for a few more slots and a bite... by then traffic was gone so no issues with crossing the street... As for the rain , we dressed for it..

What a show !!!

[MAPearce]

And a Point well taken. Unfortunately, Penticton residents in general do not reside in a place as close as the Ramada and are able to walk to the venue. Given the absence of viable public transit and the unlikelihood of a Penticton resident also buying a room at the Ramada in a town they live in.....what kind of planning do you suggest they make?

Sorry I couldn't answer earlier .. I thought nested quotes were banned but it worked with My5 so ... anyway ..

Hey Twobits...... Ever heard of a cab? All you have to do is call and they come pick you up and drop you off where you want to go. It really is incredible.
Here are some other options:
1) Carpooling. You can get more than just one person in a car (I know crazy eh) then you just find a parking spot either in the parking lots provided or close by.
2) Ride a bike. There are plenty of places to lock your bike up outside the Community centre or SOEC. All you need is a decent bike, a good lock and a decent set of lights to make sure you are seen while riding to and from.
3) Ask a friend. Most people have friends who would not be going to the same events for whatever reason. Perhaps simply asking for a favour would score yourself a ride. You can always pay your friend back with a return favour in the future.

Crazy concepts I am sure but possible granted your a normal human being.

Try these..... It won't hurt to find that you have a few friends that have the same musical tastes and paying back a favour feels good .
Option 2 is a bit of a stretch considering one may want a drink or two , but the rest are easily available even for a mouthy a$$ like me ..

And let me add that Pentictonites should consider themselves lucky that they have so many cool things going on year round ...
I'd love to live there ..

[Nooby]

Nooby,

Just to be clear...... What distance is not close enough to walk?

I just want to get a sense of how lazy you are....... Plus, why does fall weather make your willingness to walk shrink even more? Don't own a decent jacket?

Wow. Lazy? First of all - do you live in Penticton and are you aware what the weather was like on Saturday night? Not that it's any of your business but a 40 minute walk in that weather is not something we were willing to do. Plus you have no idea of our ages or physical conditions, or what else we may have had going on that precluded us from taking 40 minutes to get there. Laziness has nothing to do with it and we found a perfectly acceptable option without having to worry about parking.

[Darkre]

Parking around the SOEC is bad during events but it's like that at every major facility. Have any of you tried to park near Prospera when something is going on in Kelowna? Canadian Tire and Moduline should make some extra cash by allowing event goers to park in their parking lots for $5. Same for Penticton Soccer. Couple block walk for cheaper parking isn't bad and would alleviate many of these concerns on an interim basis. This could actually be a decent fundraiser for local charities.

[MAPearce]

Parking around the SOEC is bad during events but it's like that at every major facility. Have any of you tried to park near Prospera when something is going on in Kelowna? Canadian Tire and Moduline should make some extra cash by allowing event goers to park in their parking lots for $5.

I'm surprised I didn't see any " Pop Up " cab drivers soliciting their services for the events like they do on New Years and every transit strike on the local buy and sell sites .....

[twobits]

Not to mention that the 14 cabs in Penticton get rather busy when 3 or 4 thousand people exit the building at once. Or that the two buses running at that time carry 60 people each every hour lol. Ya, there are options my *bleep* wanderdreamer.

[MAPearce]

Not to mention that the 14 cabs in Penticton get rather busy when 3 or 4 thousand people exit the building at once. Or that the two buses running at that time carry 60 people each every hour lol. Ya, there are options my *bleep* wanderdreamer.

What ? You gots no friends that you can trade something for to get a ride to and from a concert ?

Dood , you catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar .