JK Parking for families with young children

[Nottinghamshire outlaw]

Can anyone tell me whether an EOD family with a child under 6 will be able to go to the priority parking without the emailed permit which a pre-entered family could request?

I have been asked by someone relatively new to the sport and I have read the programme info and cannot find an answer to that scenario.

Thanks

[andypat]

That sounds like a useful benefit of and reason to pre-enter if you ask me.
Otherwise how can the organiser maange the spaces in the family parking?

[Gross]

Sounds to me like a definite way to reduce participation & membership all in one go by suggesting you need to pre enter to get a parking space....

Who expects a sport to grow if a new family with a 6 year old are expected to pre enter???? They should be able to EOD... if there is parking space then great

[andypat]

Wasnt saying they had to pre-enter - just suggesting that it didnt seem unreasonable to have to pre-enter if you wanted a priority parking space. Cant think of any other example of a leisure activity where that woudnt be the case. Hard pressed volunteer team got plenty to do without fixing a parking space out of process for someone who might not even turn up.

[Lard]

It's the JK. Not a local event. It's not designed to cater for new orienteers. It's hard enough for the organisers already!

[Gross]

Then why offer any EOD at all?

Having no EOD would make less work for all ?

[Mr D]

Can anyone tell me whether an EOD family with a child under 6 will be able to go to the priority parking without the emailed permit which a pre-entered family could request?

I have been asked by someone relatively new to the sport and I have read the programme info and cannot find an answer to that scenario.

Thanks

Thanks, i forgot to go with Priority Parking. I have children Under 6 who will be attending.

[Nottinghamshire outlaw]

I had a response to an email which I sent today to the JK Coordinator so this may help others. It looks as if it could be OK to take 'pot luck' but day 3 might be a better bet to chance it.

Quote:
This is a really difficult one and you won’t find the answer on the website. There is only priority parking on Days 2 and 3. On Day 2, cars will not be directed to the priority parking without showing a permit. On Day 3 we do intend to turn those without a permit back before they get there but we may not be able to enforce it. Lucky ones on Day 2 could be just as near as priority parkers. Except for the bus ride, they will be no worse off in terms of distance to walk by using the ordinary parking for Day 3.

Our real problem is the weather that happened over December/January. It ruined a lot of our parking. We have had to make other arrangements and things are very tight. At the end of March last year, we would have been fine. I am reluctant to send out extra priority parking permits, but I might send one depending on how things work out over the next week or so as we finalise plans. The permits are not going out yet anyway.

Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

[roadrunner]

Then why offer any EOD at all?

Having no EOD would make less work for all ?

When I started orienteering - 1988 - the JK was far more popular than it is now (6 M21 courses!) and it was possible to enter on the day for the main courses, let alone colour coded ones. That was before the days of computer technology - paper control cards, pin punches, manual timing; surely it should be easier these days?

[Electrocuted]

I'm just grateful the JK is doing priority parking. It makes a big difference with small children. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask people to enter in advance if they want to use it.

[roadrunner]

Just in case my comment was misunderstood - it wasn't meant as a criticism of the JK organisers or the priority parking issue, just an observation that EOD for the bigger events seems less common these days when technology should make it easier. It might tempt more people to have a go (which is one of the BO targets). Obviously numbers of maps and start slots is an issue, but surely that was always the case.

[awk]

Just in case my comment was misunderstood - it wasn't meant as a criticism of the JK organisers or the priority parking issue, just an observation that EOD for the bigger events seems less common these days when technology should make it easier.

I'm not sure why for a major event like the JK it should make it easier. From my point of view as planner, the maps are still printed offset-litho, so they still have to be at the printers some weeks before the event (they are there at this moment). The technology has helped in other ways: being able to plan on computer, being able to plan courses that can take advantage of e-punching (so we don't have to worry about competitors taking controls out of order), being able to update the map later than was possible in the past, using waterproof paper etc., but none in terms of making EOD easier. Anyway, I also remember not being able to enter various championships when I was younger because I'd missed the deadline, so I'm not sure how common EOD used to be.

Actually, from the organiser's point of view, EOD is a total nuisance at an event like this, and in answer to the question why do it, I think it's because (a) it's traditional and (b) because it does give a window of opportunity for those unable to decide earlier or not sufficiently organised. But it is a concession, which does put a burden on a very hard pressed volunteer structure, and I'm surprised it's maintained.

Incidentally, a horse accidentally crossing the fields that were to be used for parking (within a couple of hundred metres of assembly) last week left hoofprints over 4 inches deep, and there was standing water on the fields that were superbly firm this time last year. The farmers say that they have never in living memory seen so much water. Whereas normally it takes a day or so for runoff from the hills to appear in the streams in the valley, the watertable is so high that it's now appearing in minutes (we are only a few miles from Malham Cove, where the waterfall over the Cove lip flowed a couple of months ago for the first time in at least 300 years). The good news is that the running on the area itself (almost totally limestone) is superb. I spent a fabulous day up there a week or so ago watching the plovers, curlews etc start to return, with kestrels and peregrine in full hunting mode, and a dipper feeding in the stream running through the centre of the assembly area. Oh, and I did a bit of planning work as well. Just hope that the snow stays off!