If protecting the environment isn’t enough, here’s another incentive to trade in that gas-guzzling SUV for a fuel-efficient hybrid: VIP parking.
Sunflower Farmers Market reserves six close-in parking spots for environmentally friendly vehicles at its natural and organic grocery store in Denver.
In Westminster, the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has a half-dozen front-row parking spaces for employees who drive hybrids.
The city of Aspen issues permits that allow hybrid owners to park in two-hour residential parking spots for up to three straight days and in spots designated for carpoolers.
Tri-State spokesman Jim Van Someren said the company started the hybrid parking program in October to support the use of “greener transportation options.”
Sunflower chief executive Mike Gilliland said the Boulder-based grocer is testing the spots at the Denver store and will decide in the coming months whether to expand to more locations.
The moves come as hybrid sales climb and manufacturers worldwide, from Ford to Porsche, jump into the market. Hybrids combine a gasoline engine with a battery-powered electric motor.
In the first quarter of 2008, 83,050 hybrids were sold, up 7.6 percent from a year ago, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.
Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, said the parking incentive is a good idea but will be tough for businesses to enforce if they base the spots on emissions or fuel efficiencies.
“It’s great to have the incentives, but there will be challenges with it,” he said. “For example, what is the criteria going to be based on, and how’s the employer going to keep up with the models that achieve it?”
At the Sunflower store Monday, a wide range of models used the spots, which have signs that say they are reserved for “low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles.” Among the vehicles in the parking spaces: a Toyota Corolla, a Honda Civic and a Ford Expedition.
“This is the first time I’ve parked in one of these spots, and I feel kind of guilty,” said Stan Stockdale, who drove a Saab. “But I figured since I’m not driving my Suburban, I’d qualify.”
Gilliland said all six spots usually aren’t used at the same time, so enforcement hasn’t been an issue.
“As it becomes more full and more used, I’m sure we’ll patrol it as we can in a polite way,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll just put a note on their windshield or let them know in a friendlier manner.”
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com
