U.S. Forest Service seeks end of half-off discount for seniors

[Craig]

Article

The U.S. Forest Service wants to eliminate its long-standing half-off discount for seniors and the disabled at federal campgrounds run by private companies. Concessionaires now operate most of the agency's developed campsites.

Concessionaires have been pushing for years for the elimination of the mandatory discount, arguing that recent federal laws no longer require them to offer it. They also argue the discount is too steep, unreasonable given the growing number of baby boomers, and that it forces them to charge other customers more.

This would effect the Pro Sports Inc campgrounds in the WMNF.

Comments must be received in writing by February 1, 2010

 

[Mike P.]

Myabe 50% off is a little high for a discount but I'd like to see them offer some type of discount.

(I'm still years away from qualifiying although getting closer to receiving my AARP card....)

 

[roadtripper]

What?? I seriously had no idea that the campgrounds were not run by the FS themselves. I can't believe these campgrounds are in the business of making a profit....FS campgrounds should be kept inexpensive to encourage a strong amount of people to get outdoors, including low-income families who rely on cheap vacations.

In my opinion, seniors should be getting a discount (50% may be too high, 25 or 33% might be more appropriate), and the disabled should get one too (50% seems reasonable to me)

 

[Craig]

It seems us baby boomers are ruining it for everyone on a lot of topics.

Or are we just easy escape goats for big business?

I was kind of looking forward to some of the perks mature age had to offer.

 

[leaf]

I was kind of looking forward to some of the perks mature age had to offer.

yeah, cause you sure didn't get wisdom..

 

[MTNRUNR]

They really don't go out of their way to make it very easy to submit comments

 

[jniehof]

What?? I seriously had no idea that the campgrounds were not run by the FS themselves. I can't believe these campgrounds are in the business of making a profit.

Very little on our public lands is actually run by the relevant agencies. Mesa Verde NP is largely run by Aramark now...

 

[Bob]

What?? I seriously had no idea that the campgrounds were not run by the FS themselves. I can't believe these campgrounds are in the business of making a profit....

Where can I get a NF campground to run?
I'll even give some 'hosts' a free site to collect the $$ for me...free labor!

I don't recall them going out to bid, did I miss something?

 

[RoySwkr]

Myabe 50% off is a little high for a discount but I'd like to see them offer some type of discount.

It says 10% will be required, but concessionaires can offer more in their bids

 

[brianW]

From The London Times:
A Well-Planned Retirement

Outside England 's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lotfor 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, its parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees were �1 for cars ($1.40),¿½5 for busses (about $7).

Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent. The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility. The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee. The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payrole.

Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain (or some such scenario), is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own; and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about $560 per day -- for 25 years. Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over $7 million dollars!


.....
You just have to adapt it to a trail head lot that gets a lot of use.

 

[Chugach001]

FS campgrounds should be kept inexpensive to encourage a strong amount of people to get outdoors, including low-income families who rely on cheap vacations.

The Forest Circus is within the Dept of Agriculture and in the business of "harvesting" trees. They are also the #1 road builder in America (more than Transportation department) and the #1 logger. And a huge fricken drain on the tax payers.

I'm not sure I want them subsidizing campgrounds also and having to either clearcut more forest or dig deeper into my pocket to do it. If they want to offer a value, stop subsidizing clearcuts and cut some bureaucrats.

IMHO

 

[Stan]

... Or are we just easy escape goats for big business? ... I was kind of looking forward to some of the perks mature age had to offer.

"Escape goats for big business"???? This is big GOVERNMENT sticking it to us ... If you think this is bad, did you notice what they were trying to do to Medicare ... 'til Scott Brown came along?

There are still perks to old age. A Senior Acesss Pass, something like $10 for lifetime, is good at many national facilities: parks, forests, bureau of lands management, lands under Army Corps of Engineers etc.

A similar pass for people with disabilities is available free, at any age.

My recollection buying Canadian National Parks passes, one for a senior, one for a person with a disability, it was over $50 each ... with the respective discounts ... for ONE year!

... I don't recall them going out to bid, did I miss something?

Come on, Bob, if you were a serious campground operator with an interest in bidding for such a concession, you'd know about it. Such bidding is, however, onerous and subject to "political" intervention, so watch out! I can speak from experience on both sides of the table.

 

[Craig]

...
I don't recall them going out to bid, did I miss something?

...
Come on, Bob, if you were a serious campground operator with an interest in bidding for such a concession, you'd know about it. Such bidding is, however, onerous and subject to "political" intervention, so watch out! I can speak from experience on both sides of the table.

I have been told of X military folks that set up corporations or LLC to bid on contracts whose bidding notices are buried deeper than a hiker in a spruce trap on N. Brother.

It's not what you know - It's who you know...