No more free parking in Anchorage (?)
A possibly-important article just appeared at KTUU - Draft ordinance would ban RVs from overnight camping in Anchorage parking lots
Forum Discussion
Other towns have tried to get rid of RV on their Parking lots, probably pushed by campsite owners, only to find out they lost some business from the RV community. People just change the way they travel. Town should do like in Europe, they try to attract people by providing free overnight parking to Rv's. You can park just about anywhere and town business owners love it, they attract people, people spend money, everybody is happy, not just the campsite owner.
I don't care to much about Anchorage as a town, it is much like any other town in USA, a town is a town, but if I can stay there free, I might spend a night or two. If I have to pay 50 dollars to stay cramped up in a so so campsite, I will just stop over a few hours and keep on trucking like I did the first time I went through. The second year, I stayed at Cabella's, had diner in a restaurant and spent a good few dollars in souvenirs.
In Lake City Florida they once added no overnight post to find out nobody was stopping in the area anymore, ending up with a loose loose deal. They finaly went to the mayor to removed their no overnight post to allow RV back. The campground that tought people would use their campsite felt short, they gain nothing.
Samething in Matane Gaspesie in Quebec, a near town campsite owner was trying to make the town to ban RV in Walmart but it did not happen when RV'er heard about it, they made their voice heard and said they would just change their travel stop over. The stupid business man thought campers would all go to his campsite thinking that people where now atracted by the town's appeal. What was really appealing was the free parking at walmart, then they wher going to other business in town, not the oposite.
Many Walmart had their parking lot placarded with no overnight signs in Florida a few years ago and had a chase on Rv's. That is not the case anymore as I found out this winter. I stayed at many Walmart and other places like Home Depot or Casino's, even where they had no overnight post sign, they now seem to welcome them us back, or at least tolerate us. I also did spent over 3000 dollars in campsites this winter in Florida, just to say that yes I use campsites too. But when I am on my way, I love to stay at an easy in easy out place, assle free, where I can do most of my shopping at walie and other business close by. Everybody is happy.
One great tool now is Allstay, you can find free overnight stay all over USA and Canada with user review. Business probably find out that Rv'r are bringing good $$ to their day to day. Rv's don't take anything by just parking in their empty overnight parking lots, they actually bring more then they take by buying stuff. I actually think it is good for the business as there is someone in their lots to check things out at night.
I don't care to much about Anchorage as a town, it is much like any other town in USA, a town is a town, but if I can stay there free, I might spend a night or two. If I have to pay 50 dollars to stay cramped up in a so so campsite, I will just stop over a few hours and keep on trucking like I did the first time I went through. The second year, I stayed at Cabella's, had diner in a restaurant and spent a good few dollars in souvenirs.
In Lake City Florida they once added no overnight post to find out nobody was stopping in the area anymore, ending up with a loose loose deal. They finaly went to the mayor to removed their no overnight post to allow RV back. The campground that tought people would use their campsite felt short, they gain nothing.
Samething in Matane Gaspesie in Quebec, a near town campsite owner was trying to make the town to ban RV in Walmart but it did not happen when RV'er heard about it, they made their voice heard and said they would just change their travel stop over. The stupid business man thought campers would all go to his campsite thinking that people where now atracted by the town's appeal. What was really appealing was the free parking at walmart, then they wher going to other business in town, not the oposite.
Many Walmart had their parking lot placarded with no overnight signs in Florida a few years ago and had a chase on Rv's. That is not the case anymore as I found out this winter. I stayed at many Walmart and other places like Home Depot or Casino's, even where they had no overnight post sign, they now seem to welcome them us back, or at least tolerate us. I also did spent over 3000 dollars in campsites this winter in Florida, just to say that yes I use campsites too. But when I am on my way, I love to stay at an easy in easy out place, assle free, where I can do most of my shopping at walie and other business close by. Everybody is happy.
One great tool now is Allstay, you can find free overnight stay all over USA and Canada with user review. Business probably find out that Rv'r are bringing good $$ to their day to day. Rv's don't take anything by just parking in their empty overnight parking lots, they actually bring more then they take by buying stuff. I actually think it is good for the business as there is someone in their lots to check things out at night.
