Breckenridge, CO is now charging parking fees during the summer season

[dougp26364]

While not a big deal because the rates are very low ($1.50 for 2 hours weekends, 50 cents/hr for 3 hours week days), but it caught me surprise and I very nearly didn't know I needed to pay. I saw another couple getting their license plate number and that attracted my attention. Eventually I noticed several signs. I've been here enough I just didn't really see them. You either pay by card or by phone at a site called ppprk.com

It's not that it's a big hit financially but it has made parking in Breckenridge a little more inconvenient

 

[dougp26364]

https://passportinc.com/breckenridges-new-mobile-payment-parking-program-sees-results/

 

[CO skier]

Breckenridge used to be a fine Colorado ski area and mountain town. It has become Vail-ized. Resort charges, charges for anything tourist related. I no longer patronize the overpriced, Vail-ized version of what used to be a classic ski resort.

I prefer to ski Steamboat Springs. Sadly, with the recent purchase, Steamboat is likely to become Aspen-ized. If that should happen, it is likely to end my 45-year skiing career. There will not be a reasonably priced ski resort (even considering various season pass options) within a day's drive.

OK, maybe Ski Loveland, if you get there early enough to find a parking space.

 

[dougp26364]

I agree. Even the summer season is becoming crowded and touristy. Blame successful add campaigns and timeshare developement if you will.

I did like the articles explanarion of why the city council enacted a program they acknowledged was unpopular. To many cars, to few parking spaces and to few people taking free mass transit. While unpopular it's had the desired effect of moving people from individual cars onto shuttles and the free ride bus plus put $$ into the budget which goes right back into improving streets, pesdestiran pathways and mass transit systems.

What they've done a poor job of is educating us tourists. The signage is plentiful but I've been here enough it was unnoticeable. Until a restaurant manager told me about the parking app, I had no idea one existed and, until I searched for and found the article I had no idea which app was the correct app for Breckenridge.

The hours are really odd as well. It appears that most lots you pay between the hours of 10AM and 3PM weekday. There's also one fee for weekdays and one fee for weekends. It even appears that different lots may have different prices. Yesterday the kiosk wanted to charge me 50 cents for the first hour and $1 for the second hour where the other lot we had parked in was 50 cents/hr for the first three hours.

The parking app is nice. You can pay remotely from your phone and it has an automatic reminder to feed the pig when your time is running out.

It's not that the parking fees are high. In Chicago I've paid upwards of $10/hr. It's the surprise, lack of education and frustration in figuring out the easiest way to use the system. Once you know how it works it's really a beautiful thing, but it's taken me most of a week of complaining to restaurant and shop owners to piece all of the information together to learn the secretes of how to use the system effectively.

 

[zinger1457]

I've visited Breckenridge in early September the last couple of years and and really enjoyed it, much better than Vail IMO. Good time of year to visit, not crowded at all (except during Oktoberfest weekend).

 

[dagger1]

We got back from Vail two weeks ago. Great place, but really expensive and "high end". More Aspen than Aspen. And we heard that Beaver Creek is trying to imitate Vail. We have been going to Breck for years, and were there on this trip. I don't find it anything like Vail. Sure, touristy, but much more laid back than Vail. We like it better than Vail for that reason. Steamboat is cool, just hard to get to from DIA, too far. When we stay in Breck, we have gone to Colorado Rockies games, only a little over an hour when traffic is light. Next summer it will be Breck again...

 

[lizap]

We got back from Vail two weeks ago. Great place, but really expensive and "high end". More Aspen than Aspen. And we heard that Beaver Creek is trying to imitate Vail. We have been going to Breck for years, and were there on this trip. I don't find it anything like Vail. Sure, touristy, but much more laid back than Vail. We like it better than Vail for that reason. Steamboat is cool, just hard to get to from DIA, too far. When we stay in Breck, we have gone to Colorado Rockies games, only a little over an hour when traffic is light. Next summer it will be Breck again...

We love Breck as well..