As I'm killing time avoiding the sun, I'd thought I'd give an update on this.
When I was in San Diego, I stayed an extra day and checked out the San Diego Zoo. I LOVED IT. Overheard all sort of great 'american quotes' my favourite being this woman, who after observing the polar bear exhibit commented on how adorable they were, then added : "We have *got* to take that trip to Canada." Clearly expecting to be greeted by frolicking polar bears once she crossed the 49th. In fact, I can't imagine a better way to discourage tourism than to have 'playful' polar bears waiting at the border crossings.
In her defence, these polar bears were RIDICULOUSLY cute. They wrestled, they played with their toys - one would sumersault into the water, and the other would watch carefully, then timing it correctly, bellyflop *ontop* of his friend, sending them both spinning to the bottom admist giant waves and spashes. At one point, one of the polar bears put a bucket on his head while wrestling - the other polar bear decides this is a great idea and puts a bucket on his head too. Now we've got two semi-blinded polar bears wrestling with each other with buckets on their heads - flapping their giant paws, backing over each other, bouncing off of walls, crashing into the water - cue giant air bubbles of surprise - are you getting the sense how cute these bears were? If I thought one of these goofballs was going to show up at my door, I would never leave Canada.
BUT that's not what this post is about. As a canadian, my admittance ticket got me a free tour and a free skyride (its a special discount for Canadians - probably a thank you for their number one exhibit). On this tour, the tour guide, a well spoken, knowledgeable woman said the following: 'and isn't it great that the San Diego Zoo provides free parking!' and I thought about it, and I didn't think it was so great that they were encouraging everyone to drive cars - but I didn't say anything.
Then I thought it about it some more, and that I should have said something. That it's because people like me don't say stuff that the world is in the shape that its in - that if you're not part of the solution you are part of the problem, yada yada yada.
So the next morning I decide to write an email to the San Diego Zoo, saying that I thought it was inappropriate that an institution that prides itself on its conservationalism efforts, subsdizes cars (via free parking) over alternative transportation. I suggested that they should charge for parking, and use those extra funds towards encouraging alt. transportation.
I get back as pretty basic Customer Service reply: Thanks for you comments, we love it when our guests take an interest... hope to see you again soon at the zoo...' malarky. Him/her also informed me that the parking lot was owned by the city and as such they couldn't charge for it.
I was off to the Grand Canyon and didn't really think much of it until I got to Zion, and suddenly had a lot of time to think. At which point I realized that it didn't matter whether it was the Zoo's decision to charge for parking or not, what mattered was the effect - and the effect was that people who drove were getting a benefit, thereby encouraging that behaviour.
So I wrote back. Outlining that arguement - and suggesting that since they couldn't charge for parking, at least they should offer a similar incentive for those who came by alternative transportation. A five dollar discount or something.
I would like to suggest that the Zoo offset this [driver benefit] by offering a discount/benefit for those who come by bus or bicycle. Perhaps five dollars off admission price for those who produce a bicycle or a valid bus ticket.
Initially, I do not believe (based on the few bicycles I saw in the bike rack) that such a policy would have a significant impact on your admission dollars generated. In the alternative, if it was wildly successful in encouraging individuals to leave their cars at home, to the extent it was impacting those dollars - then it would be a great accomplishment for an organization like yours.
I concluded with
I understand that you may not be the person making these policy decisions. But if you agree in principle with subsidizing alternative transportation - that it is a 'good idea' in line with the Zoo's objectives in promoting sustainability, I would appreciate you forwarding this email to the individuals who are responsible.
I get back nothing.
About a week later I get back a reply that is almost identical to the first reply they sent me, but with out the parking information.
NOW I'm annoyed. But more than that, I'm intrigued.
Offering a discount to cyclists or public transportation riders is a total no-brainer! OBVIOUSLY any remotely green organization should be doing that! Plus it would be so easy to do! There is no reason (that I can think of, or that they have provided me) why they are NOT doing it. Other than the obvious that someone can't be bothered to make a decision to do it.
So I'm intrigued to find out exactly how hard it is to get a good idea implemented, for no reason other than - it's a good idea!. Stay tuned!
When I was in San Diego, I stayed an extra day and checked out the San Diego Zoo. I LOVED IT. Overheard all sort of great 'american quotes' my favourite being this woman, who after observing the polar bear exhibit commented on how adorable they were, then added : "We have *got* to take that trip to Canada." Clearly expecting to be greeted by frolicking polar bears once she crossed the 49th. In fact, I can't imagine a better way to discourage tourism than to have 'playful' polar bears waiting at the border crossings.
In her defence, these polar bears were RIDICULOUSLY cute. They wrestled, they played with their toys - one would sumersault into the water, and the other would watch carefully, then timing it correctly, bellyflop *ontop* of his friend, sending them both spinning to the bottom admist giant waves and spashes. At one point, one of the polar bears put a bucket on his head while wrestling - the other polar bear decides this is a great idea and puts a bucket on his head too. Now we've got two semi-blinded polar bears wrestling with each other with buckets on their heads - flapping their giant paws, backing over each other, bouncing off of walls, crashing into the water - cue giant air bubbles of surprise - are you getting the sense how cute these bears were? If I thought one of these goofballs was going to show up at my door, I would never leave Canada.
BUT that's not what this post is about. As a canadian, my admittance ticket got me a free tour and a free skyride (its a special discount for Canadians - probably a thank you for their number one exhibit). On this tour, the tour guide, a well spoken, knowledgeable woman said the following: 'and isn't it great that the San Diego Zoo provides free parking!' and I thought about it, and I didn't think it was so great that they were encouraging everyone to drive cars - but I didn't say anything.
Then I thought it about it some more, and that I should have said something. That it's because people like me don't say stuff that the world is in the shape that its in - that if you're not part of the solution you are part of the problem, yada yada yada.
So the next morning I decide to write an email to the San Diego Zoo, saying that I thought it was inappropriate that an institution that prides itself on its conservationalism efforts, subsdizes cars (via free parking) over alternative transportation. I suggested that they should charge for parking, and use those extra funds towards encouraging alt. transportation.
I get back as pretty basic Customer Service reply: Thanks for you comments, we love it when our guests take an interest... hope to see you again soon at the zoo...' malarky. Him/her also informed me that the parking lot was owned by the city and as such they couldn't charge for it.
I was off to the Grand Canyon and didn't really think much of it until I got to Zion, and suddenly had a lot of time to think. At which point I realized that it didn't matter whether it was the Zoo's decision to charge for parking or not, what mattered was the effect - and the effect was that people who drove were getting a benefit, thereby encouraging that behaviour.
So I wrote back. Outlining that arguement - and suggesting that since they couldn't charge for parking, at least they should offer a similar incentive for those who came by alternative transportation. A five dollar discount or something.
I would like to suggest that the Zoo offset this [driver benefit] by offering a discount/benefit for those who come by bus or bicycle. Perhaps five dollars off admission price for those who produce a bicycle or a valid bus ticket.
Initially, I do not believe (based on the few bicycles I saw in the bike rack) that such a policy would have a significant impact on your admission dollars generated. In the alternative, if it was wildly successful in encouraging individuals to leave their cars at home, to the extent it was impacting those dollars - then it would be a great accomplishment for an organization like yours.
I concluded with
I understand that you may not be the person making these policy decisions. But if you agree in principle with subsidizing alternative transportation - that it is a 'good idea' in line with the Zoo's objectives in promoting sustainability, I would appreciate you forwarding this email to the individuals who are responsible.
I get back nothing.
About a week later I get back a reply that is almost identical to the first reply they sent me, but with out the parking information.
NOW I'm annoyed. But more than that, I'm intrigued.
Offering a discount to cyclists or public transportation riders is a total no-brainer! OBVIOUSLY any remotely green organization should be doing that! Plus it would be so easy to do! There is no reason (that I can think of, or that they have provided me) why they are NOT doing it. Other than the obvious that someone can't be bothered to make a decision to do it.
So I'm intrigued to find out exactly how hard it is to get a good idea implemented, for no reason other than - it's a good idea!. Stay tuned!
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