CAR PARKING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23012, 13 April 1938, Page 18

CAR PARKING

PROBLEM IN CITY SURVEY UNDERTAKEN SEARCH FOR INFORMATION FIELD DAY FOR LARGE STAFF In an effort to get some authoritative data on the parking problem in the inner city area the City Council yesterday carried out a parking survey in the district bounded by Symonds Street, KarangahaiJe Hoad, Hobson Street and the waterfront. A staff of 134 men was engaged from 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. taking a record of tlio vehicles parked from varying periods in the streets in this area. On the particulars collected a report will be prepared by the officers of the Town Planning Department as a guide to the council on the possible future provision of special parking spaces or parking buildings. It was pointed out yesterday that the survey aimed solely at securing facts pertaining to the parking question and had nothing to do with prosecutions for excessive parking. Work on Patrol System A proposal to erect a parking building on part of the city bus station site was considered by the Auckland City Council last year, but as the cost involved was likely to be very great it was decided to survey the position with a view to ascertaining how the position could best be'dealt with. Yesterday's survey was therefore undertaken to'gain information as to the volume, location and time of parking, and all streets in the area in the city defined by the boundaries selected were given attention. . . . This district had been subdivided into 63 beats, to each of which two men were assigned. Working on a patrol system, these men each worked alternate shifts. In the more congested or the prohibited arefts the men patrolled the beats every five minutes, while in others the round was done every 10. 15, 20 or 30 minutes, according to the character of the locality and the prevalence of parking. Guide for the Future

On each journey round the beat the men recorded the type of vehicles noted, whether they were merely parked or loading or unloading goods, and the method of parking. In the areas where the patrol was made at intervals of 15 minutes or longer the recorders noted the numbers of cars and were thus able to indicate the periods over which manv cars were left unattended. This field work was carried out under the observation of 1!2 supervisors, while the general direction of the survey was in the hands of two members of the Town Planning staff. All the temporary workers were supplied by the State Placement Office. All the information obtained on the sturvev will later be collated and analysed'hv the Town Planning office of the council, which will be able to set out a schedule supported by maps showing how much parking is done within the selected area, the duration of parking, and exact locations. This will act as a guide to the Traffic_ Department in dealing systematically with the parking question and provide a lead to the council when it lifts to consider the question of providing parking spaces or other accommodation for vehicles-. It is believed that this is the first survey of its kind ever undertaken in New Zealand or Australia.