‘No Parking’ On Half Length Of Whangarei’s Main Business Streets

Northern Advocate, 14 July 1949, Page 2

‘No Parking’ On Half Length Of Whangarei’s Main Business Streets

ONLY about half the total length of the streets in the Whangarei business area where 60-minute parking restrictions are. in force is available to motorists for the accommodation of their cars. The remaining half is prohibited to private vehicles. This was revealed by a survey made by a Northern Advocate reporter yesterday.

Figures compiled during the survey highlight the traffic pro blears which are causing congestion in the heart of the borough.

It should be remembered'that these figures do not and cannot give the true picture of parking facilities in the main district of the borough.

The prohibited areas amount to 47.6 per cent of the available parking space. They, include vehicle entrances and crossings, bus stops, taxi stands, fire plugs, pedestrian crossings, bicycle racks and commercial stands, as well as other spaces which must be kept clear of cars.

Not all streets in the business area arc controlled under the 60-minute limit by-law. Streets which are not so controlled include Vine Street and John Street.

Furthermore, there are parking lots close to the main business area.

Howevei', few would claim that the parking restrictions imposed under the Traffic Regulations and the borough by-laws have not made for the safety of everyone, and of the motorist most of all. Nevertheless, it has been evident for some time that some means will have to be found to eliminate the congestion, which has been partly caused by the very safety measures introduced to ameliorate overcrowding.

The streets included in the 60minute parking area are Water Street, Rathbone Street, Cameron Street and parts of Bank Street and Walton Street.

Measurements taken during the sur.vey of these streets were approximate, but they compare well with those on large-scale plans of the borough. ' It was found that the total length of the streets (ihcluding both sides of each) was 2642 yards. Of this, only 1384 yards may be used for parking. If the parking space occupied by one car is estimated as being five yards, about 277 vehicles could be accommodated in the business area.

That the Boi’ough Council is alive to the position is shown by the fact that it has set aside considerable areas as car parks near the centre of the borough. As soon as the weather permits, the council’s staff will commence the levelling and metalling of a park in Cafler’s Avenue. This area will accommodate 105 cars, or more than a third of the number which can be parked in the main business streets.

The town end of James Street had the least parking space in proportion to its length, while Cameron Street was found to be most free of restrictions.

In this street cars may park along almost the entire length of the southern side. Vehicle entrances and crossings vied with the bus stops and other stands for the position of being the motorists’ worst parking bugbear.

That this is necessary is shown all too clearly by the fact that 3727 motor vehicles were registered at the Whangarei Chief Post Office this year, which represented an increase of 478 cars, and trucks in only one year.

The prohibited spaces at the end of streets and at intersections also consumed considerable distances.

One “no parking" sign, in Water Street, was not accompanied by street markings to indicate the bounds of the area.

The statistics revealed by the survey were:

ten. ten; Percent Water Street: (yds) prohib. prohib South side ... 1G7 99 North ... 190 6G 46.2 Total ... 357 165 Bank Street: . West 209 East ' i. 181 56.1 Total 390 Cameron Street: South G2 North 120 35.7 Total182 Ratlibone Street: 125 West East ' 51 54.3 Total James Street: ... 324 176 West no East 94 Total .... .337 . 204 60.5 Walton Street: • 45 . West ... 158 96 44-2 Total 141 Grand total ... 2G42 1258 47.6