Wal-Mart Parking

[Windwalker55]

[Kirk]

If you are really concerned about your right to spend an occasional night parked in a parking lot in your self-contained RV, the best thing to do is to join the Escapees RV Club. www.escapees.com Escapees are the only organization that is doing anything in this effort. Good Sam makes a lot of noise about their "parking rights" efforts, but they only deal with parking on the streets at your house. The won't risk upsetting any of the RV park owners who advertise with them! Escapees is trying to help protect our rights, even though they do own 19 RV parks. And they are the only one I know of that provides dry camping sites for a reasonable price.
_________________
Good travelin !................Kirk
URL: www.adventure.1tree.net
Sent via Starband, Manual Flyer dish.

[rmgolfcourse]

I agree with JOE. 12 hours is perfect to rest a bit, check over the RV and stock up supplies in the Wal-Mart.
_________________
Amity Cafe & Creamery
4641 Somerset Pike - Hollsopple, PA 15935
(814) 479-4750

www.AmityCafe.com
www.FreeCampgrounds.com
www.FullTimeRVer.com

Visit the Sponsor of this great forum: http://www.RVbookstore.com

[CoachPotato]

I am a confirmed WallyDocker and have spent many nights as the guest of Sam. Rest his soul.

I, too, get disgusted when I see someone abusing Sam's generosity, but it should be mentioned that Wal-Mart is plenty capable of taking good care of their own lots. (Note their lot security; that's one of the main reasons I am a WallyDocker.)

I ovenighted once at the Gilroy, Ca Wal-Mart whre it was posted No Overnight Parking. I checked with an employee (Don't waste the manager's time!) and was welcomed as usual "for a night or two". The same situation had occured there, some jerk tried to live in the lot. Wal-Mart had to post the signs so the city had the authority to boot the jerk. And now they can, but they don't unless Sam's invitation is being abused.

I've spent many a night at Wal-Marts all around the country with the No Overnight Parking signs and have never had a knock on the door. Just check inside before you spend the night.

Wal-Mart manages a business with 1,400,000 employees, or there abouts, and can certainly manage their lots without our help. But if you want to try to convince some lot lizard that he should move, feel free. I'd rather let the owner handle it.

God bless Wal-Mart. I'm a real fan! (And regardless of what we hear, a Wal-Mart clerk wished me a Merry Christmas this week!)
_________________
Dale
www.FishWisher.com

[Dick Kuykendall]

I've read all these postings, discussed this issue with others and even wrote a response to the Mayor of Billings on this subject, all in support of short-term parking when allowed by commercial property owners.

However, that's what others typically have done and the situation appears not to have changed much. So I feel a different approach is needed to resolve this issue. Here's what I propose, conceptually, and would like feedback on it from you folks. First, let me tell you about the strategy I'm proposing.

The strategy I recommend puts the business community in the forefront, not RVers and other "customers." Businesses have the necessary political clout in their respective communities to get the job done with organized guidance and support from us. They have a financial motive to drive the program locally where the battle must be fought. If the non-RV businesses, such as the retail box stores, take on local RV businesses, you can be assured the non-RV businesses will win. They just need our help to make it happen. All this, then, leads me to the program concept, strategies and tactics I’m proposing to jumpstart my proposed initiative.

The only RV industry voice speaking out on this subject is this great "information-vehicle", RV Travel. Perhaps RV Travel could take the organizational lead to implement the program I'm conceptually proposing. What say you, Chuck Woodbury? Read on to see how we RV owners can help.

First, a "White Paper" needs to be prepared to objectively address this issue. This document will serve as the factual foundation for accomplishing the objective of allowing "business-regulated/enforced" off-street parking on commercial properties where allowed by participating businesses. Included in the White Paper should be model land-use planning ordinances and other supporting document for use by "local" program-drivers (business stakeholders).

We should explore obtaining a grant from the Urban Land Institute, Better Business Bureau and other similar groups to fund the effort. We would need some financial support to cover the cost of a couple of face-to-face committee draft-writing meetings. Perhaps they could be held in Edmonds, Washington, home of RV Travel. Excellent meeting facilities are within walking distance. Then, drafts of the White Paper could be posted on this forum and input gleamed from RV owners and others in the RV industry so that the document is well accepted once it's published in its final form. The simple act of circulating drafts on the internet will be an effective byproduct of this initiative.

Once armed with the White Paper, potential participating businesses could be contacted by RV owners, like each of us, whom would present the proposal to local business owners/managers for implementation. Each would be provided with a packet of information consisting of
1. The White Paper and a brochure highlighting the great positive economic value regulated RV off-street parking promises to cooperative merchants and their respective municipalities.
2. Sample/model documents for use by cooperative businesses, including; “Free Parking Invitations" (permits, if you prefer) dated and issued by the respective participating business, designs of signs and pavement markings for use in the parking facility designating approved spaces (Handicapped parking provides an excellent model), and "Discount rebate cards" for use by RV owners participating in the program.

RV owners represent a huge market retailers would love to tap. They just need a little creative help from us. Talk about being creative, I also propose we develop a nationally standardized RV Parking logo for signs and pavement markings.
_________________
Dick Kuykendall

[Dick Kuykendall]

My too lengthly posting was cut short. So here's the remaining part:

The key to on-site regulation/enforcement of this program by participating businesses is a product/service receipt for a nominal amount (pick an amount, say, $10.00) that is attached to the Invitation (permit) which would be required to be posted on a window of the RV.

If the property owner with the parking facility desired they could allow receipts from other business in the immediate area as a good-will gesture. I'd expect local Chamber of Commerces to support this measure and that, too, would help gain additional support of the movement. The receipt from cooperative retailers, for example, would be taken by the RV owner into the store with the parking facility to be attached to an Invitation issued by that respective business.

The major economic motivation for primary participating businesses is getting the potential RV customer in the door and buying products/services, particularly during slow shopping hours. Having a neighboring business in the loop is just another win-win strategy for the primary business, since the RVer still must go into the store to get an Invitation.

What we need to make this work is an organized, nation-wide effort and the contribution of time by RV owners and others with interests in addressing and resolving this nation-wide issue. What organization is interesting in taking the lead?

What say you, RVers? Let’s hear your responses
_________________
Dick Kuykendall

[sundevil6]

Ya gotta be careful not to imply that this is a legal camping area, otherwise the government will make them get a permit, install a dump, water, etc. and that would open up another can of worms.

[Dick Kuykendall]

Excellent point. I agree.

Maybe we could call it a "RV Park & Shop Invitation," anything other than an "official" sounding term, like permit.
_________________
Dick Kuykendall

[CoachPotato]

Dick,

Are you now, or have you ever been employed by a government bureaucracy?

Whew! You do believe in complex solutions. I avoid them at every opportunity.

As a retired small business owner, I can tell you that all the complexities that you propose wouldn't get a second glance. Most businesses have their interests to keep them busy; the short answer to your proposal would be "I'll get back to you." And into the round file it would likely go.

Businesses are capable of managing their business without our complex schemes. As for me, I'm happy with things as they are.

Oh! And I've dealt with city hall. Believe me, it ain't worth the effort! I'll take my shopping money to the next town before I bother with 'em.
_________________
Dale
www.FishWisher.com

[SgtKarl]

I agree with Coach Potato. Much too complicated. Also, remember, divide the number of communities in the US by the number of communities with these anti-RV laws and you will see there are plenty of places to go still. Businesses, if they want RVers, will put the pressure on w/o help from us.
_________________
If you are coasting..you are going downhill.

[jbennett]

My wife and I used to stay in a casino parking lot at Lake Tahoe when we went there. Until one year, some unwonderful person dumped there.
I haven't been there in years but after that, they understandably would not let anyone stay overnight.
There is one in every bunch, eh?
The rotten apple, I mean.
_________________
wannabe fulltimer

[Kirk]

Dale says it well. We are looking at a fix for a problem that just isn't there. There are two major forces in this issue. The ARVC, which is an association of campground owners, is promoting the idea of making parking lot overnighting illegal and on the other side is the Escapees RV Club, who has created a code of ethics to spend the night in a parking lot. And they also have one employee who works on the overnight parking issue. Let's not re-invent the wheel, support the group who actually do something about the problem.
_________________
Good travelin !................Kirk
URL: www.adventure.1tree.net
Sent via Starband, Manual Flyer dish.

[elkermarty]

All of this talk about Wal-Mart. Has anybody written to the corporate offices to see exactly what their policies are about staying in their parking lots? I think that it would be a good thing to do let the other RVers know what is up. Maybe all of this city interference is just a bunch of hogwash.
_________________
"99 American Eagle
"01 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Nor-Easter]

The Admiral and I were recently in Fort Pierce and stayed at the county park called the Savanna's on Midway Road, east of Route one.
We took the toad up to Wal-Mart to do some shopping and while the Admiral was inside, I looked up the security guard to engage in a conversation.
I told him I was a motorhome owner and had occasionally slept over in his lot.
I asked him what were the rules set by his boss here in Ft. Pierce.
He told me that he checks each motorhome or trailer, RV, whatever, and records the time, date and license plate.
If the vehicle shows up the next day, it is asked to go someplace else. If there is a day/night or more between stays, they do not mind. The security guard said stay overnight on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; Sunday and Tuesday and Thursday and I will welcome you each time. Just NO TWO DAYS AT A TIME!
Fair enough. Oh, another thing he told me was NO OUTSIDE COOKING< LAWN CHAIRS< AWNINGS OUT< ETC. You are only here to sleep or shop.
Thank you very much, Ft. Pierce, FL Wal-Mart!
_________________
Capt. Chet
1997 Winebago Vectra DP
2004 Malibu Toad
Just me and The Admiral
Cruising the roads of the USA

[bardj1234]

Several times when we have shopped at Wal-Mart, we have driven through the RVers parked. If we want them to understand our needs for rest, we need to understand their policy. Just like we leave parks that charge--CLEAN--we need to leave our sleepover spot clean. Happy Camping--wherever