NORTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25799, 21 March 1945, Page 3

NORTH OTAGO

THAMES STREET' PARKING

MOTORISTS FAVOUR PRESENT SYSTEM After hearing representations advocating a change from the present ” angle " parking in Thames street to “ straight-in ' parking, the executive of the North Otago Automobile Association on Monday night passed a resolution opposing any change, some members expressing the opinion that the change proposed would sacrifice the safety-first principle. Mr H. S. Stevens (president of the Oamaru Chamber of Commerce) waited on the executive to place his views before members in support of the “ straight-in system for the central avenue area, with parallel parking at the sides of Thames street. Mr Stevens submitted that the change would permit of more cars being parked in the avenue, as four cars could be parked between the trees compaied with three as at present. Traffic Inspector J. M. Henderson, who attended the meeting by invitation, stated that Thames street was not wide enough to permit ’’ straight-in ” parking on the avenue, with angle parking on tbe sides of the street. With parallel parking at the sides motorists would just be able to park “ straight-in ” at the avenue, but that would involve loss of half the parking space at the sides. Mr G. A. Cartwright stated that they had to consider cyclists, who would have to stop when cars in front turned straight into the avenue. Mr Stevens, he said, had stated that under the present system motorists had to cross pedestrian crossings to park in the avenue, but there were six divisions of trees, and only in one instance did motorists have to drive over a pedestrian crossing to park. Mr Dalmer said that the sketches submitted were misleading and not to scale, and there was not room for four cars to be parked between trees. Motorists did not follow the markings on the angle. If the traffic inspectors reprimanded motorists for not parking correctly, said Mr Dalmer, there would soon be plenty of room for parking. If they instituted prosecutions there would soon be a big improvement. (Hear, hear.) With parallel parking at the sides they would lose half the parking space. Mr Stevens submitted that anyone who could not park " straight-in ” had no right to drive a car. Mr A. Taylor said Traffic Inspector L. E. Simmons had authorised him to state that he was opposed to “ straight-in ” parking unless parallel parking was adopted at the sides. Space had to be allowed in parking for opening car doors. Inspector Henderson said he had put hundreds of reminders into cars. He did not want to prosecute, and said that if he told the average motorists of his mistake he would correct it. If motorists got into the habit of putting the hand out on turning into the avenue it would be quite safe. Mr Stevens said the matter had not been raised for selfish reasons, but only to save motorists the trouble they had had for years. If the proposal was turned down, no friendship would be impaired so far as the Chamber of Commerce was concerned. The executive carried a resolution that it could not see its way clear to accede to the request of the Chamber of Commerce to recommend any alteration in the present system of parking, with which it was perfectly satisfied.