VISITORS' CARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23202, 23 November 1938, Page 14

VISITORS' CARS

PROBLEM AT HOSPITAL PARKING DIFFICULTIES STREETS LINfeD BY VEHICLES CONGESTION OF TRAFFIC To find parking space in close proximity to the Auckland Hospital presents a motoring problem of unusual difficulty when the institution receives its invariable influx of visitors on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Lining both sides of Park Road, Boyle Crescent and Park Avenue, about 300 cars stood in tho area bounded by Grafton and Carlton Gore Roads between seven and eight o'clock last night. Until some . weeks ago tho parking of cars was permitted in tho grounds of tho hospital, hut during tho visiting hours congestion occurred, two attendants finding it impossible to cope with the volume of traffic on somo occasions. Ban on Parking in Grounds A prohibition on parking within the hospital area during tho visiting periods was imposed by tho Hospital Board and, with the rule rigorously enforced, a much increased demand has arisen for space in the adjoining streets. • Tho measure of congestion that would bo tho normal outcomo from tho the congregation of about 300 cars was accentuated last night by the steady traffic proceeding toward the city via Park Road before eight o'clock. Conditions automatically imposed their own restrictions and, between Grafton R.oad and Carlton Gore lload, there were only rare occasions when motorists found it advisable to proceed faster than about 10 miles an hour. Peak of the Congestion Stoppages were frequent as vehicles attempted to manoeuvre into a position in tho lino of parked cars, and while clusters of pedestrians mado use of tho crossing opposite the main hospital entrance. A steady stream of visitors was still in evidence at 7.30 p.m., when the through traffic also reached its height, and, with buses continuing to discharge their loads of passengers and other private vehicles parked momentarily well out on the roadway to set down occupants, the difficulties were probably at their worst. At eight o'clock, when the exodus of visitors commenced, there was comparatively little congestion, although cars were frequently parked so close together that drivers wero required to wait until they were released by the movement of other vehicles.