[Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way

[Art Deco]

Gary writes:

" A better approach might be to have an independent third party obtain some objective data with regard to the parking situation."

That would be a good first step.  Given that data then an unbiased professional survey designer could then design a survey with unloaded questions, carefully and fairly select the sample space, and then proceed to determine public and business attitudes/beliefs.  Perhaps the UI or WSU math departments could make this a carefully supervised graduate statistics student project.

Assuming that even if MacDonald and Steed have any enthusiastic supporters, they would probably concede that neither is a qualified survey designer/taker.  We have just discussed a poorly constructed survey by Fox News.  Let's not waste money on another questionable effort which will satisfy no one.

Though Gary and I do not have much in common in our world views, I think we both agree that facts are needed in the discussion of the parking issue, and I hope that we agree that the different parties to the dispute, especially the city, are not likely to generate unquestionable data themselves.

W.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: g. crabtree 
To: J Ford ; vision2020 at moscow.com 
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 6:20 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way


My understanding is that there will be three surveys done. The first for business owners. The second for employees, and the third for customers.

What I see as the glaring problem with this approach is that a survey will only net you answers to what people perceive the problem to be. A better approach might be to have an independent third party obtain some objective data with regard to the parking situation. Perhaps quietly turn a few civil engineering seniors loose on the project?

g
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J Ford" <privatejf32 at hotmail.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 2:12 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way


>A parking survey of businesses int he CBD is being conducted this next week.
> 
> Just how many businesses are there in the CBD?  I've seen and heard numbers 
> around 55-60...now  the Chamber of Commerce is saying there are "300!"  Is 
> that even possible?  And what area are they considering the CBD?
> 
> Apparently, a "survey, developed by Moscow Public Works Director Les 
> MacDonald and the city's Transportation Commission Walter Steed" is being 
> given out to the businesses in the CBD.  It is supposed to be comprehensive 
> and result in a better idea of just what parking issues really do exist in 
> the CBD.  They are asking the businesses about such things as "what they do 
> in terms of how they get to work, where they park, what employees do, what 
> they are hearing from the customers, what distances customers are willing to 
> travel..."  The survey is being distributed by hand by an intern Chamber of 
> Commerce (aka a member of the CC or NSA?)  This intern is also recording 
> what businesses are at what addresses because "The city might be able to use 
> that information in the future"  Like the City doesn't know?  And what would 
> they possibly need this information for?  And doesn't the Chamber already 
> have this information?
> 
> What about surveying the paying customers?  What about asking the citizens 
> that have to attempt to use that area for parking and conducting business?  
> How about having more than a few days to get the survey done?  Why the rush? 
>  (Its due in by 23 Feb 07.)  And the businesses that don't respond will 
> receive a SECOND visit to ostensibly find out why they haven't responded.
> 
> It'll be interesting to see just who does the tallying of those surveys and 
> then compare them to surveys done in the past.  Again, I don't see why the 
> paying customers of the CBD are not being asked to fill out a survey.
> 
> J  :]
> 
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