Cycling in Sydney Australia
A Parking Experiment
Car parking issues really interest me (I know, I need to get a life) because it seems that on-street parking is one of the biggest obstacles to providing bicycle infrastructure.
Most people have a strong feeling of entitlement when it comes to using their street to store their car. People defending on-street parking contend that it is necessary for visitors, trades-people, delivery vans etc. But in many places, the number of cars 'stored' on the street
actually means that there is not enough room left for even these uses, let-alone a bike lane.
Usually, if I own too many possessions to fit on my property, I have to pay for a storage room. But, if that extra possession is a car, then I can just put it on the street. But what if I filled a car with my possessions instead of hiring a storage room? Or better still, what if I picked up an old van from the wreckers, filled it with junk and left it on the street?
It would be interesting to see if you could get away with it. Would it be hypocritical for someone to park their car on the street but complain that someone else stores their property on the street?? It seems to be the same thing to me...
Most people have a strong feeling of entitlement when it comes to using their street to store their car. People defending on-street parking contend that it is necessary for visitors, trades-people, delivery vans etc. But in many places, the number of cars 'stored' on the street
actually means that there is not enough room left for even these uses, let-alone a bike lane.
Usually, if I own too many possessions to fit on my property, I have to pay for a storage room. But, if that extra possession is a car, then I can just put it on the street. But what if I filled a car with my possessions instead of hiring a storage room? Or better still, what if I picked up an old van from the wreckers, filled it with junk and left it on the street?
It would be interesting to see if you could get away with it. Would it be hypocritical for someone to park their car on the street but complain that someone else stores their property on the street?? It seems to be the same thing to me...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Adrian on -
Hermann Knoflacher is famous for demonstrating this issue by wearing a wooden frame the size of a car and walking around Vienna.
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Permalink Reply by Edward Re on -
Recently from the LA Times:
State lawmakers take aim at free parking
January 29, 2010|By Patrick McGreevy
Reporting from Sacramento — State lawmakers are taking aim at what some of them see as a menace to California's environment: free parking.
There is too much of it, the legislators say, and it encourages people to drive instead of taking the bus, walking or riding a bike. All that motoring is contributing to traffic jams and pollution, according to state Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), and on Thursday he won Senate approval of a proposal he hopes will prompt cities and businesses to reduce the availability of free parking.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/29/local/la-me-free-parking29-...
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Look out, at this rate, Los Angeles is going to overtake Sydney as a nice place to ride!
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Permalink Reply by Neil Alexander on -
In my experience, LA already is a nice place to ride. Preferably out of, as fast as possible!
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Permalink Reply by ♫ Kylie on -
Something I noticed during my recent stint of driving was exactly how difficult it is to get anywhere near the centre of the city to park. My view on cars in the cbd is that their use should be restricted to those passing through, those loading, and those who are unable to take public transport (disabled etc). From what I could see, the closest on-street parking I could get to Pitt St mall was Kent St, which is quite a hike for someone with mobility issues (be they disabled or just me on crutches!). This was incredibly frustrating for me, who is used to getting as close as I need with the bike, and not paying a cent to park it, but for others I can imagine this is even more physically exhausting and painful.
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Permalink Reply by Laz on -
My view on cars in the cbd is that their use should be restricted to those passing through, those loading, and those who are unable to take public transport (disabled etc).
I completely agree Kylie. While there are many issues with public transport, most areas of Sydney are reasonably well serviced if your destination is the CBD. Far too many people, who could cycle/walk/use public transport drive to and from work in the CBD.
I like the idea of a congestion charge similar to London and SIngapore......
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Permalink Reply by Michael O' on -
But Laz there IS a congestion charge in Sydney.
Take the Cross-City Tunnel for example. I went through it the other night, it cost me $4.28. That's how much I had to pay to avoid congestion in the city! Sadly most people would rather just jam up the CBD.
I know it's been suggested that the tunnel should be free and driving into the city should cost you, but that's wayyyyy to crazily logical for our city fathers (and mothers).
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Permalink Reply by Laz on
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Yes logic and government are two words rarely used together in NSW :-)
The other reason they don't follow your suggestion and make avoiding the city free is the detail in these "public-private" partnerships.....the bit where the government guarantees minimum usage levels. This also means that the government actually needs as many cars on the road as possible, so it's not in their interest to promote alternate travel methods too strenuously.
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Permalink Reply by Russ W on -
North Sydney Council has had complaints about boats/trailers being parked in residential streets. In some cases they have addressed the problem by introducing daytime parking restrictions ..... even say an 8-hour restriction sorts out the owners.
Locally I became aware of a boat/trailer parked on a street about 7 metres wide, this street being a signposted bike (as well as bus) route. The problem for cyclists was exacerbated as the boat was parked on an uphill climb. Fortunately yesterday the boat had been moved, hopefully to a water-based environment!
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Permalink Reply by Bob Moore on -
If trailers, boats, trucks etc are longer than 7.5 m they can't park for longer than 2 hours in a built up area, according to ARR 200. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any width restriction. Some council traffic inspectors will book offending vehicles.
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Permalink Reply by back street boy on -
there might not be a width restriction , however, if there is a centre line marked they need to clear that by 3m. Not sure what the rule are regarding marked cycle lanes
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