To the Editor:
I love the new look of the new hospital. Its great beauty invites people to just drive up and look more closely at the place where we now receive great medical care.
But if we want to stop and park, we are intimidated by many empty parking places near the building that have blue signs reading “Parking for Fuel Efficient Vehicles Only.” I think no one dares to park in those spaces because no one has defined what a Fuel Efficient Vehicle is. Is my old Volvo wagon, which gets 30 mph highway, qualified? Or are only hybrid vehicles qualified?
I called the hospital about this last week, and the receptionist was very kind. My call was not the first she had received asking about these signs. She transferred me to administration, and the person who answered was equally kind and wrote down my question and promised to get back to me.
Someone did call back on Monday. She said the hospital had applied for a “Green” designation, and one of the requirements was these signs, in addition to lots of bike racks, solar panels, etc. She also said that there is no definition of “fuel efficient,” so there will be no enforcement of the fuel efficiency parking spaces.
I have written this letter so that everyone can know what I know about the signs. The signs no longer make me intimidated. I am just exasperated with officials who think up things to make us feel good but don’t actually do anything to solve any problem.
James OsbornVineyard Haven
