Fred Posner

Sun, Feb 14, 2010 : 8:42 p.m.

"The survey was prepared by DDA staff and is not meant to be a popularity contest or free-for-all test of public opinion. It is about some guidance for the DDA policies." The survey is not hosted on the DDA server... how much did it cost? Again, "no support" is not the same as "do not agree." A survey that is flawed is worthless. And if this is not a survey for a test of public opinion, then why is there a survey?

a2roots

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 1:42 p.m.

Why is there a constant effort to reinvent things? I do not regularly agree with a2grateful but I do on this. Do not charge for parking beyond 6pm. It will be one more reason for people to look for alternatives to our downtown and campus area. At some point someone will wake up and shoot down the notion of bike paths. Build it and they will come does not work. Reducing West Stadium to two traffic lanes to accommodate bike lanes and a center turn lane is another solution to a problem that is minmal and only professed by a bike lobby that wants to takeover Ann Arbor. Whoever came up with the city signs ought to be run out of town. What an absolute waste of money. Oh, and the survey is total junk.

Joan Lowenstein

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 1:36 p.m.

The survey was prepared by DDA staff and is not meant to be a popularity contest or free-for-all test of public opinion. It is about some guidance for the DDA policies. If you disagree with them, you can vote "no support" on each item. The DDA manages the parking system and is responding to the city council's wish to get more information about long-term planning for the system.

Fred Posner

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 11:32 a.m.

Maybe they'll install a paystation just in time for the Presidential motorcade. I truly want to know how much this survey cost.

Adam Jaskiewicz

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 11:06 a.m.

The survey isn't flawed. They paid someone a lot of money to word the survey in a way that they would get the results they wanted. For what they want, it's perfect.

JAM

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.

aes -- I disagree with you about the pathfinder signs being horrible... as a relative newcomer (here 4 1/2 years) with a HORRIBLE sense of direction, I wish they'd appeared sooner! There are a lot of strangers in this town every year, with new UM students, faculty and staff, plus new people at the Hospital, etc. From those of us who navigate by landmarks, pathfinder signs, WE SALUTE YOU!!!!

aes

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 9:35 a.m.

Just read the a2grateful comment and want to say that I could not agree more and need to add--ridiculous, expensive, ugly, unnecessary "pathfinder" signs; silly "art" bike racks to trip over; trash everywhere--the city is messy AND dirty; horrible, rutted streets; money being spent left and right on things the taxpayers don't want and certainly don't need. And biking downtown is downright DANGEROUS. Check out Germany, France, or the Netherlands for "civilized" and safe city biking trails.

aes

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 9:32 a.m.

Just read the a2grateful comment and want to say that I could not agree more and need to add--ridiculous, expensive, ugly, unnecessary "pathfinder" signs; silly "art" bike racks to trip over; trash everywhere--the city is messy AND dirty; horrible, rutted streets; money being spent left and right on things the taxpayers don't want and certainly don't need. And biking downtown is downright DANGEROUS. Check out Germany, France, or the Netherlands for "civilized" and safe city biking trails.

Chuck Warpehoski

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 9:28 a.m.

I agree that there are problems with the survey, but it doesn't read like a push poll to me. What it more reads like is that the DDA has an existing document about its parking decisions and priorities. In such a document, you would expect the language to express values and be persuasive rather than neutral. It looks like they took the language from that document and put it in a survey to ask, "hey, do you agree with us on this?" The problem is that it turns some people off because the language isn't neutral, and often the questions ask more than one thing at a time.

aes

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 9:16 a.m.

Interesting that most of the comments listed echo my own thoughts on taking the survey--it steers us where it wants us to go and contains such ambiguous concepts as "Incorporate public art and beautiful landscaping in parking facilities." Why doesn't the survey focus on the questions that members of the public REALLY want to answer? One can easily see what those are just by reading the comments here and in response to other news articles about parking.

pooh bear

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 9:06 a.m.

It is incredible that in the town that practically invented sampling (thank you ISR) that the city can't partner with them to get a true read on parking needs downtown. I answered the questions because I thought I was part of a random sample. WRONG. Only random sampling would give a true picture of what we should do in the future.

krc

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.

The only one of those survey questions I might have answered is the one about creating more bike lanes. Downtown? In what space? The streets are already narrow and it's scary enough trying to drive safely when there is a biker in the street beside me. Just how would they manage it?

marzan

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 8:43 a.m.

OUCH! That survey is constructed in such a manner to get the desired results. It's really really flawed. I heard lots of people complaining about the DDA before, I can see why now.

a2grateful

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 8:38 a.m.

To enhance the City and DDA revenue streams: a) Install parking meters along every curb in Ann Arbor b) Install tollgates at every driveway curb cut c) Install tollgates at every highway exit ramp that leads to the City Ha, you say, "No sane person wants this." True, yet most resident do not want the City and DDA objects of fiscal expenditure: Silos of fountain folly funds devoid of public safety and life quality. For example, the DDA has reverted to '60's directive devices in their recent sign campaign. They forgot about handheld devices with GPS, mapping, and search capabilities that many in a2ites and visitors currently possess, and have for years... or even the old-tech method of one person asking another for directions ( : 0 eek, personal interaction)... Many of the signs are inaccurate. Many have information that most don't want, or need, to know. The Five Man Electrical Band had it right in the '60s: "Sign, sign everywhere a sign Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?" Walk along State Street and notice the garbage and recycling cans that have now taken permanent residence. Stinky, filthy, disgusting trash in front of the old State Theatre? How did this happen? Didn't the DDA use to concern itself with such matters? One of my favorite DDA practices occurs during art fair. The DDA rents sidewalk space in front of local businesses. Often, these are not art spaces. These are junk spaces, with sunglass stands and hot dogs on a stick. For example, go to Herb David Guitar Studio next art fair, finding no customers inside, no music lessons happening, and no music inside or on Herb's front porch... the "novelty vendor" on David's front walk has their sub woofin' stereo blasting... and the art fair is Herb David's slowest time of the year. Thanks for your help, DDA. So, what benefit is the DDA for local business, or residents? Important question, Ann Arbor! The City and DDA have forgotten whom they serve, why, and specific purposes. No survey will ever help them figure it out : ( Both entities have reached point of diminishing returns in their fiscal activities... Both have achieved fulfillment of the Peter Principal in their operation and leadership...

MjC

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 8:17 a.m.

This is an unscientific survey set up solely to favor the current actions of DDA and the City Council. The additional 150 parking 'pay stations' will only lead to traffic congestion and an increase in fender benders on both 5th and Division streets.

jenn

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 7:54 a.m.

How naive I was to think that the survey process was a sincere attempt to gather public opinion. What a scam!

racerx

Fri, Feb 12, 2010 : 2:57 a.m.

What other "plans" could the DDA be seeking if there's going to be a 600 car parking garage built? How many cars does the city really need to park at any given time? It's not like it's football Saturday everyday in Ann Arbor. For a town that prides itself on having a "Non-motorized Transit Plan" there sure seems to be a lot of attention on parking cars! Still though, our roads are diminished to allow on street parking and bike lanes. I just don't want to be around downtown and trying to get to either of the freeways (US23, I-94, M-14) when I exit the Library Lot parking structure. Division St. down to two lanes and the surrounding streets only one lane, I feel this is going to be a big cluster trying to get out of dodge.

bunnyabbot

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 10:48 p.m.

NO NO, I have it! Survey Says...

John Floyd

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 10:33 p.m.

It does seem more like a push-poll than a survey, "questions" designed to lead the"respondent" to particular conclusions. I wish it felt like Ann Arbor government/quasi-government actually was interested in what residents had to say. As AAresident noted, "I don't remember a survey asking if we wanted a new 50 million dollar parking garage." This "just send us taxes, we'll spend them as we see fit" attitude is getting old.

bunnyabbot

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 10:27 p.m.

if they paid someone to do this survey it was a waste of money... the new parking meters, excuse me "pay stations" are a waste of money...the a2 govt spends a whole bunch of money on crap

Ryan J. Stanton

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 9:39 p.m.

An additional 150 parking pay stations are scheduled to be installed in downtown Ann Arbor over the next three years, replacing current on-street parking meters.

John of Saline

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 9:11 p.m.

If you don't like lugging lots of change, remember that the meters take dollar coins. Get 'em at the bank. Also good for shorting out the minds of less-aware clerks.

st.julian

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 8:06 p.m.

The questions are to complex for discrete votes. Many of them seem disingenuous. Examples are ambiguous. DDD needs some professional help in designing a meaningful questioniare for meaningful results. Or, perhpas the questionnaire is purposely ambiguous so that DDD cna manipulate results to drove their favored agenda, e.g build more parking lots and highrises condo compelexes

suswhit

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 7:22 p.m.

I started to take the survey last night but quit on the second or third question when I realized it was a setup. Who is the genius who thought we'd fall for this? "Please tell us how much you like us. Do you like us a whole lot, more than you thought you could ever like anything or do you actually LOVE us? Please pick one."

AAresident

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 6:17 p.m.

I agree this survey does have an agenda. After all, it's brought to you by the people who are building the unnecessary and very expensive underground parking lot next to the library. It appears DDA pushed for that project in par so that large buildings could be built on top of the underground garage. I don't remember a survey asking if we wanted a new 50 million dollar parking garage.

bunnyabbot

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 5:47 p.m.

the survey shows an agenda and is poorly constructed. I doubt any of it will change what they want to do anyway, which is punish people who want to show downtown.

Adam Jaskiewicz

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 5:22 p.m.

Light rail to Howell? Put a light rail line on the I-94 Business Loop. Put Park and Ride decks at the old Michigan Inn site and out by Arborland. Heck, continue it right out Washtenaw and Cross to Depot Town.

Fred Posner

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 4:31 p.m.

I always get upset when I see flawed surveys. Such as this one where the first questions asks to rate if I agree with a statement but then does not provide a method of saying that you don't agree (not important is not the same as do not agree). I wonder how much of our money was wasted on consultants making this survey.

Adam Jaskiewicz

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 : 3:26 p.m.

I don't have a problem paying for parking, but I don't like feeding meters or carrying change around. If they start charging for evening metered parking, I'll probably use structures more where I can pay all at once, or park for free in a neighborhood somewhere and walk.