She says.. .

Press, 6 December 1979, Page 23

She says.. .

As we build up to the Christmas rush, the city’s double-parking problem gets worse. A few cars do it (some drivers seem to think that switching on the hazar d-warning flahshers gives them the right to park anywhere) but the main offenders are trucks. But so often, it’s not at all necessary. A lot of truck-drivers in Christchurch double-park out of laziness, and I suspect that a lot of traffic officers let them get away with it for the same reason. In both the city and the suburbs, I’ve time and again seen trucks stop three metres out from the kerb when there’s been nothing parked at the kerb at all — and plenty of room to swing in and out again, even with a truck’s 15-metre turning circle. Almost every day, I see trucks double-parked beside parked cars when there’s empty kerbside space 30 metres away — and it was empty when they arrived, not just va-

cated after they had pulled up. The city’s one-way streets are frequently badly restricted by doubleparked trucks, most of which could easily be at the kerb. Double-parking in the one-way streets should be banned. It should also be banned throughout the city at the peak traffic times. Ultimately, I believe that truck and taxi double-parking in our narrow and busy streets should be completely forbidden. There are loading zones, and more may be needed. But several times I have seen double-parked trucks within metres of vacant loading zones, so the “what are we supposed to do?” cry of trucking firms impresses me not at all. Deliveries have to be made, to be sure; but given an inch, I believe that Christchurch’s trucking firms have taken a mile — and been allowed to get away with it. — Barbara Petre.