ACUTE PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 223, 16 June 1932, Page 8

ACUTE PROBLEM

Mid-City Parking of Motor-cars EXPERT VIEWPOINT The contents of a confidential memorandum regarding the City Council's proposed zone motor parking scheme were disclosed by the chairman of the by-laws committee, Councillor H A. Huggins, to members of a deputation yesterday. The deputation, which represented motoring and othei interests, waited on the committee to voice its protest against the proposed new by-law. The memorandum is as follows: “In the first place, it must be stated that the zoning scheme is that of our chief traffic inspector, who has studied the Wellington traffic question for many years, and whose knowledge of traffic problems met with the spontaneous and unstinted commendation and admiration of the Central Transport Board. Within the past IS months he has visited and learned much from traffic experts in the principal English cities. It is he who has to deal daily with Wellington’s problems, year in and year out, and his expert knowledge and recommendations must carry more weight than those of irresponsible critics, whose criticism generally fines itself down to their own personal convenience as distinguished from the good of citizens as a whole. “It is clear from the newspaper reports and letters, that most of the ‘hot air’ poured out against the scheme is based on a lack of knowledge alike of the proposal, and of the present bylaws. Beyond this there is genuine criticism which of course must be met. A great outcry has been made at the half-hour parking limit within the central zone, as though it were something entirely new. As a matter of fact (excepting the all-day areas) parking in the majority of the principal streets of the inner area under the present by-law is restricted to half-an-hour or else entirely prohibited. The argument is being used as a red herring to cloak the real objective—namely, the retention of valuable city street space for the all-day garaging of private motor-cars. Result of Careful Survey. “A careful survey of all the streets concerned in the two zones made by the traffic office gives the following results. Streets are treated in areas, and I am therefore using the term ‘street areas’ rather than streets. In 14 street areas which have at present ‘no parking,’ parking under the zone svstem will be permitted for one hour; in five the time is increased from 30 minutes to one hour; in 20 it remains as at present, one hour; in 15 ‘no parking’ remains as at present; in 28 the present ‘no parking’ is converted into half an hour parking; in 11 halfhour parking remains unaltered. In all these cases there is either (1) an increase, or (2) no decrease in present time allowed. “Now for reductions. In 12 areas only is 30-minute parking cut out, and in 16 areas hour parking, in favour of ‘no parking.’ These are cases affected by tram traffic, and also those altered since the present by-law by resolutions of council on the recommendation of the chief traffic officer. In 13 cases the hour has been reduced to 30 minutes. “The crux of the whole matter is the all-day garaging of cars on our busy central area streets. There are daily complaints that citizens are unable to find any place to park their ears while doing business in the city on account of -the space occupied by private cars which occupy the same position throughout the day. More than 80 per cent, of these cars come from areas outside the city of Wellington. If Spaces are Available. “If these spaces are made available citizens will resume the rights now taken from them, and retailers and wholesale houses will benefit by some two miles of central areas being released for legitimate parking. Thirtythree all-day park areas will be converted into half-hour or hour parking areas as the case may be. The many protests from both merchants and retailers are well-known to councillors. They report that neither they, their customers, nor their travellers can draw up opposite their premises unless with a car between; in other words, by the dangerous expedient of ‘doublebanking.’ “Modern conditions with motor traffic have called for some concession with reference to ‘parking’ cars. Wellington, on account of its peculiar configuration, must work out its own problem on its own lines. That is what the chief traffic inspector has endeavoured to do. “He has recommended as a preliminary that garaging of private cars from 8 or 9 a.m. to 5 to 6 p.m. must not be allowed in the busy and narrow central area. He has recommended also a small inner zone for half-hour parking, and a small secondary zone for hour parking. Medical Profession Exempt. “As is well known, the council had no intention of applying the by-law to medical practitioners attending patients. It does not apply the present bylaw to such people. It is quite impossible to satisfy all the personal, and often conflicting, interests of motorists. What must be aimed at is that which is best for the city and its citizens as a whole. “The question of adjustment resolves itself into what should be the length of time for parking in the central zone. This may be met by throwing the two zones into one and allowing one hour parking in all but tramline streets, plus a few present special exceptions. In tramline streets, only the setting down and picking up passengers and goods where the street is less than 66 feet wide, or as at present ; portions over 66 feet wide to be indicated by notices. The hour zone to apply elsewhere, and medical men to be excepted.”