Officials working with Concord delivery drivers to keep downtown clear
CONCORD, CA (Oct. 31, 2024) — Recognizing that the concern is but a mole hill now, making sure delivery drivers for services like DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats know the expectations for parking downtown is the way to ensure it doesn’t grow into a mountain of a problem.
“It’s not significant enough where we do not think this can be worked out with some education, signage and cooperation from everyone involved,” said Walter Eichinger, president of the Todos Santos Business Association (TSBA) and a senior vice president with Brenden Corporate based in Concord.
“We appreciate the business that the Uber and DoorDasher bring to our downtown merchants. We very much need it. With some conversation and cooperation with them and the merchants, this can be resolved,” he continued.
The issue of parking etiquette or the lack thereof came up during a recent TSBA meeting when members voiced concern about delivery drivers camping out around businesses waiting for orders to come in, not necessarily stopping to quickly go in to get filled orders. They likened these drivers taking up spots outside restaurants to taxi drivers waiting at Oakland International Airport terminals for travelers to approach them for rides.
With some education, Eichinger doesn’t see this situation evolving into eat-in customers being turned off about coming downtown.
“The main issue expressed by some downtown merchants has been DoorDashers and Ubers waiting for an order parking in service alleys and no parking zones, blocking loading areas and employee access to their business,” said Eichinger.
Addressing the concerns
The TSBA has sought posting clear no parking signage at service alleys with additional striping.
“We also suggested if there can be some direct conversations and guidance as to where to park between the drivers and downtown merchants that it would be the best outcome,” he added.
Eichinger noted that city officials, including Councilmember Carlyn Obringer, whose District 2 includes the downtown area, have been responsive to the concerns and “promised to study and address the issue.”
“TSBA has always found the City Council and city staff to be cooperative, helpful and willing to work with the concerns of the downtown,” Eichinger said.
Obringer, who has attended TSBA meetings to learn firsthand about this issue, said action is happening on multiple fronts to get word out to drivers about parking legally.
“Since this issue came up, our city Economic Development staff reached out to the major food delivery companies and received confirmation from DoorDash and Grubhub that they would remind drivers that the city has an abundance of free parking, conveniently located in our free parking garages,” Obringer said.
“We have also encouraged our businesses who work with DoorDash and Uber Eats, etc., to communicate the same to the companies and the drivers that come in,” she continued.
The education approach appears to be getting traction as delivery companies are passing it down the pike to its cadre of drivers.
“We’re working alongside the city of Concord to communicate with Dashers about best practices that will allow them to continue serving local businesses and consumers while decreasing congestion and leaving access to parking spaces for in-person diners,” said Alejandra Velázquez, spokeswoman for DoorDash.
“We’re grateful for the city’s partnership and are confident that together we can find a solution that works best for Dashers, local businesses and Concord residents.”
David Scholz
David Scholz is back in journalism as a freelance writer and photographer after nearly two decades in education. Prior to moving into teaching in 2000, he worked as a full-time journalist since 1988 for rural community and small daily newspapers in Central Ohio and Northern Nevada, and later in California with The Business Journal in Fresno and dailies in the Bay Area, including The Oakland Tribune and The San Francisco Chronicle. More recently Scholz also worked in an editing, writing, and page layout role with the Rossmoor News.