PARKING PROBLEM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 147, 23 June 1945, Page 3

PARKING PROBLEM

POSSIBLE SOLUTION

INSTALLATION OF METERS !

A solution to the car-parking problem in Auckland—a problem which is stated to be assuming major proportions as far as the busier part of the city is concerned—may lie in the system of meter parking which has been adopted by many American cities. Though the Auckland City Council has been informed that production of the meters has been held up owing to war considerations, supplies are expected to be available later in the year. Basic idea of meter parking is the installation of meters at regular intervals along footpaths, the insertion of a coin by the motorist having the effect of showing on a dial the period of time for which he is authorised to park his car in the space beside the meter. The height of the meters is about four feet. Some of the advantages of meter parking are an increase in space turnover, a decrease in average parking time and the facilitation of parking because of the marking-off of definite spaces. It is also contended that the system speeds up the traffic flow, reduces cruising and facilitates bus. street car and truck operations. Traffic officers are assisted by the provision of a positive check on the length of parking and by the elimination of chalk marking and inaccurate watch timing. Others factors are the provision of parking space for more people a'nd the elimination of fender damage due to close parking. Probably the main consideration, however, is that revenue is produced which would not only pay for the installation of the meters, but also would provide added income that could be used for other traffic needs. Meter-parking has been adopted by over 400 cities in the United States. In Auckland the system would probably be confined to such busy thoroughfares as Queen Street. Karangahape Road and the narrower streets in the central city area. Action, however, has not yet advanced beyond the preliminary inquiry stage.