Parking fees coming to LM

[Salty.]

"The City of Pacifica has applied to the California Coastal Commission to implement a fee parking system for the two lots at Linda Mar Beach. The revenue from these fees will be used for facilities maintenance, to hire two rangers, and to improve snowy plover signage."

Read this announcement over on SURFPULSE.

[Mooch]

Solution: park on the shopping center across the street 

*It's a short walk, you can grab breakfast at Dennys and grab a cup of white mocha at starbucks. On the way home, grab a meal at L&L Hawaiian BBQ. Life is good 

[Squidder K]

As someone who uses County, state, and National parks, and enjoy the hell out of them, is it to much to ask to pay the parking fee?  It really ticks me off to no end when I go up Skyline and see an empty parking lot but see 50 BMW, Mercedes SUV's parked on the out side because they don't want to pay the lousy 5-6 buck entrance fee.  Meanwhile these Yuppies will cry bloody murder if the state chooses to close the park because it is not self supporitive. I take squeeky into every parking lot just to show I really support the park system and want to see it flourish.  GF and I have even parked our motorcycles in there and had to pay two entrances fees.  We hate it but love the parks too much to see them go away. 
 We, as anglers, should do the right thing and not just park in the supermarket down the street.  We are above that, please don't stoop to that level.  Before long the supermarket will have a "for customer only sign, all others will be towed." We walk around with a gun sight on our backs for every enviormentilist, conservationist, and not to mention PETA pukes out there.  Don't give them anymore reasons to pull the trigger on us.  Okay I am off my soap box now.

[FisHunter]

the local surfers will not and should not let that happen......we all pay enough to live in this wonderful state.......if it were to happen, i'm sure they/ I would do exactly what Squidder K is referring to: a total BOYCOTT of the lot&fees and just more wa$ted funds towards something that does not need fixing.
What will be next? Rockaway Beach? Moreys Pt? The Pier? The whole coast?
The restrooms should already be a MANDITORY thing that should be very important to the Coastal Commitee.
 
 

[agarcia]

I'm an advocate of parking outside on the road and walking in. I'm not a yuppie and I don't drive a bmw, just an average guy that likes to visit the beach as often as I can.  During the spring, summer and fall I try to surf 2-3 times a week and surf any one of a number of beaches that have a parking lot with day use fees.  I have no problem with walking around the gates to access the state beach that my taxes already pay to maintain....even though most beaches see or need no maintenance.

I see two glaring issues with a linda mar parking fee.  For starters, there is no way to justify the need for one ranger, let alone two. From my experience as is, the lot is safe to park in, users are respectful and don't leave a ton of trash all over.  The only thing the rangers would do really is ensure that you paid your fee and ticket you if you don't.  There are a couple other state beaches within a couple miles drive that are more remote and vulnerable to getting trashed or having scum bags busting into vehicles......but they suffer from neither with zero ranger enforcement.  We don't need rangers there and nobody is really asking fior them.

When I seen snowy plover signage my gut reaction is......really, freakin snowy plover signage?  Does signage and upkeep really demand ongoing fees to maintain?  I'd rather invest that money into restoring sasquatch habitat.  These little birds have been the center of major controversy all over the us and the key factor limiting alot of unnecessary closures to all sorts of recreational activities.  Putting up  a sign is just the start.

Maintaining the bathrooms and showers are about the only justifiable expense I see.....but even then, how much does it cost to maintain the current level of services and why is the current tax roll not enough to cover it, from what I see the services are minimal at best.  I patronize plenty of local businesses while I'm in town, I'm positive that part of that county tax that the businesses pay goes to covering the services. 

If there is a campground or some special attraction (or street parking is just way too far to park at and the park has the advantage) then I will pay to play.  IMO though, most of the nicer parks that people have no problem paying to get into wind up supporting the lesser used.  IMO if the park can't support itself, just leave the gate open, keep a big dumpster at the front gate and let everyone fend for themselves.




 

[Weimarian]

Solution: park on the shopping center across the street 

*It's a short walk, you can grab breakfast at Dennys and grab a cup of white mocha at starbucks. On the way home, grab a meal at L&L Hawaiian BBQ. Life is good 

Like your thinkin' Now I'm hungry though

[PISCEAN]

and to improve snowy plover signage."

I don't want to spend my money on this^

I love the natural world, have been called a greenie or a tree-hugger in the past, but I tell you, the F@#$%ing snowy plovers have shut me out of more than one of my favorite beaches to play on. I could even stomach that, except their "birder" defenders are the most arrogant, chip-on-their-shouder, self-rightous folks I have ever been unfortunate enough to find on the sand, and they always seem to have to come over and talk about why this bird is threatened and why my existence on the beach is harming it.

For me, I would probably use the rebel walk-in method on this alone.  If the parking lot needs maintenance that's one thing, but charging a fee in order to have more $$ to spend on staff and signs just doesn't sit right with me.

[sharky]

Next thing is a gate that opens at 8am, just in time for the striper bite to go dead and the surf to be blown out.....

[Eric B]

Shouldn't have to pay to go to the friggin beach.  It was there before it was called a park, and will be long after.

[Kayote]

Fees for maintenance of parking areas are usually used for funding enforcement of parking fee compliance. The ocean should be free.

[Mooch]

Beach access, parking and bathrooms should be available to everyone FOR FREE.  IMO: You can easily hire ONE person to take care of the maintenance - especially Linda Mar. (it's not a big beach to begin with)

[Mooch]

Solution: park on the shopping center across the street 

*It's a short walk, you can grab breakfast at Dennys and grab a cup of white mocha at starbucks. On the way home, grab a meal at L&L Hawaiian BBQ. Life is good 

Like your thinkin' Now I'm hungry though

I also see it as supporting local economy 

[Rock Hopper]

Solution: park on the shopping center across the street 

*It's a short walk, you can grab breakfast at Dennys and grab a cup of white mocha at starbucks. On the way home, grab a meal at L&L Hawaiian BBQ. Life is good 

Like your thinkin' Now I'm hungry though

I also see it as supporting local economy 

By spending money at Denny's and Starbucks? 

[sharky]

Solution: park on the shopping center across the street 

*It's a short walk, you can grab breakfast at Dennys and grab a cup of white mocha at starbucks. On the way home, grab a meal at L&L Hawaiian BBQ. Life is good 

Like your thinkin' Now I'm hungry though

I also see it as supporting local economy 

By spending money at Denny's and Starbucks? 

Yes, while these buisnesses may be transnational/global, the employees are local.

[Mooch]

the employees are local.

Yup....I think my entire High School class worked in that shopping center at one point. I have fond memories of taking my lunch breaks with my buddies on that beach.