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Complaints continue about parking at health club
Members worry problem could worsen with closing of old facility

by Glenn Wohltmann

Parking has gotten better at 24 Hour Fitness's new facility on Willow Road, but there are still problems during peak hours, according to some members. They were also expecting things to get worse with the end of shuttle service from the gym's old building on W. Las Positas Boulevard and the closing of that gym on July 5.

Still, there doesn't seem to be the same kind of slow crawl through the lot in search of parking that was the norm, not the exception, when the club opened in January. A statement from 24 Hour Fitness says a number of changes have been made to solve the parking problem.

"Over the past several months, 24 Hour Fitness has worked to resolve the parking situation at its Pleasanton Super-Sport club and remains committed to making the club easily accessible to our members in the area," the statement reads. "In doing so, we are happy to provide our members with additional parking options, including: complimentary valet parking from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends; additional parking at neighboring business Polycom (4750 Willow Road) on weekdays after 6 p.m. and all day on weekends and holidays, and all 24 Hour Fitness employees and personnel are instructed to park off-site to ensure members have full access to the club's parking lot."

All that hasn't actually solved the parking problem, according to a number of members.

"The reality of the situation shows you still have not resolved it," wrote Dan Carroll in an email. "Members want to park their own cars and do not want to hear they have to wait until after 6 p.m. or use valet parking."

Carroll said he'd continued to use the old gym because of the parking situation, and expects parking to get even worse now because that's no longer an option.

He's not alone. At least one person pointed out on the Town Square forum at PleasantonWeekly.com that the problem continues.

However, Pleasanton Planning Manager Janice Stern said as yet, no one has brought a complaint to the Planning Commission, which was involved when the parking issue first came up earlier this year.

Posted by Unhappy member, a resident of another community, on Jul 11, 2011 at 2:10 pm

PLENT OF PARKING AT EXPRESS FITNESS. I pay 11.99/mo... Not a typo. More equipment and great staff. 24 lost my business after mocking me for complaining about the walk I had to take from my car to the gym and back. Who's laughing now!