Hello again to Barr Trail/Camp hikers and friends,
We have been in contact with the City of Manitou Springs and we wanted to pass along the updated information as it pertains to the proposed parking fees.
- There will not be a resolution on the parking fee structure at tonight's Council meeting. The final plan has not been decided so there is still room for change.
- There will be further dialog and input requested from the public. We will keep you informed either with website postings or emails.
Your voice and our meeting with the City of Manitou have been very productive. They do want to work with Barr Trail, Barr Camp, and Pikes Peak Hikers.
Happy Trails,
Neal & Teresa
Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
Just got this email (I'm sure a lot of you did):
- MtHurd
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
If you live there, it would help to go to the City Council meetings. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don't, but if you don't go they're almost guaranteed not to listen.
- Jim Davies
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
The Manitou council approved the plan. Since the plan seems to be to charge for parking starting in late May, we'll find out soon enough what the actual charges are. One of the committee members told me at the last public meeting that they'll be able to quickly change the parking fees (automated kiosk), so public outcry in May will probably determine the final result.
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
What should happenJim Davies wrote:One of the committee members told me at the last public meeting that they'll be able to quickly change the parking fees (automated kiosk), so public outcry in May will probably determine the final result.
City Council: "Gee, our automated kiosk keep getting vandalized. People are obviously unhappy with the rates we are charging to park in that lot. Let's lower them!"
What will probably happen
City Council: "We had to raise rates to pay for the CCtv cameras we need to protect our automated kiosk since they keep getting vandalized."
(I am not suggesting that someone should vandalize the kiosks, only predicting that someone will.)
- dmccool
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
Looks like a job for.......Boycott Man! If the masses refuse to go (and therefore refuse to pay) we might be able to send the message. I hate to hurt the Manitou economy, but a good-ol-fashioned STRIKE might be in order.Jim Davies wrote:One of the committee members told me at the last public meeting that they'll be able to quickly change the parking fees (automated kiosk), so public outcry in May will probably determine the final result.
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There's still space to breathe.
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- scalba123
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
Why not contact the local business directly to inform of the potential hit to their pocketbook. I'm sure that will get their attention and begin expressing their displeasure to the committee.dmccool wrote:Looks like a job for.......Boycott Man! If the masses refuse to go (and therefore refuse to pay) we might be able to send the message. I hate to hurt the Manitou economy, but a good-ol-fashioned STRIKE might be in order.Jim Davies wrote:One of the committee members told me at the last public meeting that they'll be able to quickly change the parking fees (automated kiosk), so public outcry in May will probably determine the final result.
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
Are there going to be facilities provided(besides the pay kiosk/btw, these cost $10,000+)? Are they going to plow the lot thru the winter? Are they going to maintain the lot daily, and do regular trail clean up? I only charge $5 to provide this. And even at $5, I get grief like I am charging $20. And yes, there will be vandalism, I speak from experience. $20 should get you what I provide, plus a sherpa, red carpet from your car to the trailhead, then rose petals from there to the summit and snacks and water provided.
+1 on getting local businesses to rally behind you, though hearing from enough hikers whom claim to spend real money in town should be incentive enough to rethink this dilema that will happen from a $20 parking fee.
+1 on getting local businesses to rally behind you, though hearing from enough hikers whom claim to spend real money in town should be incentive enough to rethink this dilema that will happen from a $20 parking fee.
Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
There's a bathroom, and sometimes a porta' potty (usually during the winter months, though this year I think the bathroom was open all winter).glacierPaul wrote:Are there going to be facilities provided?
They do already.glacierPaul wrote:Are they going to plow the lot thru the winter?
Trail clean up is volunteers doing the work, and those of us that pick up the traces that others left behind.glacierPaul wrote:Are they going to maintain the lot daily, and do regular trail clean up?
The pot holes in the Barr lot needs attention.
Already happens (to cars) from time to time.glacierPaul wrote:there will be vandalism
I think they will rethink the $20 fee. Personally, I think the Barr trail lot should be off limits to incliners anyway. And I'm an incliner. But I don't park in the lot unless I'm going up Barr trail. Plus, I typically go to the incline during "low use hours" unless it's summer, because even at 5:30-6am it's hard to find parking.
- MtHurd
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
Hopefully they will be voted out of office next election. City Councils have a very hard time not voting for a tax increase because it benefits them, not necessarily the community.
- Jim Davies
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
The bathroom building is now heated, thanks to the efforts of Matt Carpenter, so the portapotties are history.d_baker wrote:There's a bathroom, and sometimes a porta' potty (usually during the winter months, though this year I think the bathroom was open all winter).
I'm hoping that reason will prevail on the parking fees. It's not over yet, by a long shot. There will be a revolt if they carry through with the $20 plan.
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
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Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
Jim or d_baker, is the "heated" bathroom a vault/pit toilet or do they have running water & sewer?, could explain the high fee. As for the lot being maintained, is there trash/recycle cans, dog waste bags and do they put sand down on the ice in the lot? Is the lot paved or dirt? I put down recycled asphalt on the dirt, to help with the mud. Does this lot have tax money behind it, or is it all fee based? Thanks for answering the questions guy's, just curious, even this pay lot owner thinks $20 is ridiculous.
Re: Barr Trail -$20 FEE? - NEED URGENT RESPONSE BY TUES 3-29
Running water & sewer, nothing special with stalls or anything from what I remember. I forgot they were heated though! It's been a while since I've actually used those.glacierPaul wrote:do they have running water & sewer?
yesglacierPaul wrote:is there trash/recycle cans?
at the TH, yes I do believe there isglacierPaul wrote:dog waste bags?
yes, and is plowed. not that we've needed it this year since we've been screwed by any decent weather events!glacierPaul wrote:do they put sand down on the ice in the lot?
Yes, I believe so.glacierPaul wrote:Does this lot have tax money behind it?