1 June 2011

More parking the problem according to the Greens

| johnboy
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The Greens’ Amanda Bresnan is concerned that construction of 500 parking places in the Parliamentary Triangle will be bad for transport.

“It might seem like the sale of land in the Parliamentary Triangle for a 500-space car space is a positive move, but we think that in the long run this will only entrench Canberra’s transport problems,” said Greens Transport spokesperson, Amanda Bresnan.

“Providing rapid, reliable and regular public transport from all over Canberra is the solution that will make the most difference. It is also the only way to battle the growing problems of congestion, parking, and emissions.”

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Paid parking has just started in the gravel area next to Minter Ellison – does this mean DFAT staff will have to pay FBT on their free parking? If so, when will it kick in?

Watson said :

qbngeek said :

Well isn’t life sweet for some people. I fit into all those categories, I drop the 2 kids off, drop my wife off, drop my best mate off, then go to work. I park about 1.5km from where I work and walk the rest of the way to save on paying for parking and the walk is almost quicker than getting in the congestion to get to the carpark.

Then I do it all again on the way home.

If I get a bus it would take just over an hour and I would have to sit in a bus that is too hot or too cold, with people I don’t know as opposed to being in my car which is nice and comfortable and usually has people in it I want to see (with the exception of my wife :-))

I would love to not drive to work, but thats not happening unless the greens convince my boss to let me work from home.

I did state I was only playing devil’s advocate!

Anywho, you are clearly car pooling, so good on you.

I do think it is good to think about ways to avoid turning our town into something that looks like one giant carpark though.

Well they could always build an apartment block with 500 units in it and then people could walk to work. In fact they could build a bunch of apartment buildings and stop the sprawl. These people need to realise that as long as Canberra is a low density “garden?” city, public transport will always suck. And that’s ok, as long as there are car-parks. If there are no car-parks, then the whole Canberra model sucks. So make your minds up people.

Overheard said :

My schedule tomorrow is not overly unusual. From home in inner Belconnen to City West for work 9-11am, then a meeting in the city from 12-1pm, client in West Belconnen from 1.30-3.30pm, then radio in Manuka from 5-7pm, after which I wouldn’t mind having a bit of a life. I suspect the transit and wait times might equal my actual productive hours.

I could be wrong.

Either way, I’ll be driving the fossil fuel guzzler with a party of one.

If we follow postalgeek’s excellent categorisation, you will see you fall into the ‘martyr’ category. The recommendations aren’t aimed at you. And – again according postalgeek’s theory – if you’d make an effort to encourage the slobs (I’m one of those) to leave the car at home instead of throwing the baby out with the bath tub, your parking problems will be over.

puggy said :

Watson said :

I’m faster with the car and I just don’t have the same motivation I have in the mornings. But once I’m doing it, I’m fine and actually enjoy it.

Well, I live in Gungahlin, so it is possible for me to be faster on a bicycle than in a car. Definitely faster than a bus though!

I’m definitely faster in the morning. I had an awesome ride in today at 8.30. Made it without my foot touching the ground once and I zoom overtook hundreds of cars that were barely moving on the Federal Highway. And even if traffic is flowing when I ride, I save heaps of time not having to look for/wait for a car park.

But I’m usually slower than the car on the way back. It evens out though.

My schedule tomorrow is not overly unusual. From home in inner Belconnen to City West for work 9-11am, then a meeting in the city from 12-1pm, client in West Belconnen from 1.30-3.30pm, then radio in Manuka from 5-7pm, after which I wouldn’t mind having a bit of a life. I suspect the transit and wait times might equal my actual productive hours.

I could be wrong.

Either way, I’ll be driving the fossil fuel guzzler with a party of one.

Gungahlin Al5:44 pm 02 Jun 11

damien haas said :

A lady in the CT article said she lived in Theodore and it took her 2 hours to get to Barton by bus, which is why she parked and drove. Lacking any real fact checking by the CT,…

I think I see where your logic flow came a cropper…

A lady in the CT article said she lived in Theodore and it took her 2 hours to get to Barton by bus, which is why she parked and drove. Lacking any real fact checking by the CT, I googled the Action routes for Theodore.

Even if she lived right at the far edge of Theodore around Chippindale CCt, a bus (11 or 111) takes less than an hour.

Even if she changed at Woden, for a Barton service, i doubt her 2 hour claim – in peak hour. Outside that – its possible.

Actual Theodore bus users feel free to chime in.

keepitup said :

Overheard said :

Unfortunately the best bus route system available to humankind still doesn’t work for people who have two to three employers/clients in any one day, and just don’t have the luxury of the time for public transit.

Right on . . but those employers/clients that you speak of are usually in the ‘burbs, so parking isn’t a problem.

I don’t know about ‘usually’, but one of my employers is in the Parliamentary Triangle, and the other is in the parking schmozzle that is City West, so I’m doubly blessed. Today instead of turning up early, I left it late and ended up doing laps of OPH looking for a vacant spot. Finally jagged a two-hour spot and then had to move the car later. I have had days where I’ve had to use three time-delimited parking spots, which is not brilliant for productivity. Or my carbon footprint.

Watson said :

I’m faster with the car and I just don’t have the same motivation I have in the mornings. But once I’m doing it, I’m fine and actually enjoy it.

Well, I live in Gungahlin, so it is possible for me to be faster on a bicycle than in a car. Definitely faster than a bus though!

Well the greens banned my horse and cart cos the horse made too much methane (and didn’t like me whipping it) and until they invent teleporting to work I guess I will drive my car.

Postalgeek said :

Seems to me there are two camps that use parking. First is the ones who feel they need to drive, either carpooling, disabled, kids, or need to drive for work reasons. I’ll call them the martyrs.

Then there’s the single driver group, who drive because it suits them, because they’re lazy, or lack imagination, nouse, motivation, or discipline. They complain it’s too far to ride a bicycle or walk, takes too long for a bus, and use any number of excuses for abstaining from scooters and motorbikes (e.g there are too many dangerous cars on the road. Always cracks me up, that one). I’ll call them the slobs.

The irony being that martyrs always lead the attack on any initiative intent on driving slobs out of the parking spots martyrs so desperately need, and then complain about the ever-increasing costs of car travel being incurred on them as the slobs continue to overload the system.

lol

Postalgeek said :

Seems to me there are two camps that use parking. First is the ones who feel they need to drive, either carpooling, disabled, kids, or need to drive for work reasons. I’ll call them the martyrs.

Then there’s the single driver group, who drive because it suits them, because they’re lazy, or lack imagination, nouse, motivation, or discipline. They complain it’s too far to ride a bicycle or walk, takes too long for a bus, and use any number of excuses for abstaining from scooters and motorbikes (e.g there are too many dangerous cars on the road. Always cracks me up, that one). I’ll call them the slobs.

The irony being that martyrs always lead the attack on any initiative intent on driving slobs out of the parking spots martyrs so desperately need, and then complain about the ever-increasing costs of car travel being incurred on them as the slobs continue to overload the system.

Gold!

Seems to me there are two camps that use parking. First is the ones who feel they need to drive, either carpooling, disabled, kids, or need to drive for work reasons. I’ll call them the martyrs.

Then there’s the single driver group, who drive because it suits them, because they’re lazy, or lack imagination, nouse, motivation, or discipline. They complain it’s too far to ride a bicycle or walk, takes too long for a bus, and use any number of excuses for abstaining from scooters and motorbikes (e.g there are too many dangerous cars on the road. Always cracks me up, that one). I’ll call them the slobs.

The irony being that martyrs always lead the attack on any initiative intent on driving slobs out of the parking spots martyrs so desperately need, and then complain about the ever-increasing costs of car travel being incurred on them as the slobs continue to overload the system.

puggy said :

Watson said :

Though I did ride in today – and severely regret it now watching the clouds roll in.

You’ve got to commit to it! Mudguards and good packable water proof jacket and riding in the rain becomes fun! I love it, except that I need to clean the bike up afterwards.

In general, if everyone does what is reasonable in their situation, then it should be all good. For example, I’m within a good riding distance of work, which has good change room facilities and I have a bus stop outside my front door. I also have no kids. I’d be an idiot to drive in that situation, so, we sold the second car. Six months on, it’s all good.

I grew up in wet European country, so am well used to riding in the rain (and think those without mudguards on their bikes are a bit insane) and I do enjoy riding in the rain on those rare occasions it happens (I’m the idiot swishing through puddles and singing loudly “Satan is my motor.”). I just never like riding home on the bike! I’m faster with the car and I just don’t have the same motivation I have in the mornings. But once I’m doing it, I’m fine and actually enjoy it.

So I am happy to get that push I need to leave the car at home. It’s embarassing I need that, but I’m only human!

Is it really so wrong to do both? Our population continues to increase so logically we need a few more parking spaces and a few more bus services.

As for me, it’s a 40 minute ride to my night job and about an hour on two buses. When I finish it’s LATE (11 at the earliest) so there’s either no bus or I’m too tired to ride. I have somewhere to park so I’m happy and safe and contributing to society. If we start getting fantastic bus services, I’ll take them! It’s really too late to drive if I finish at 1am. At my last night job I sometimes finished at 5am and had to drive home. That can’t be a good thing!

bitzermaloney1:37 pm 02 Jun 11

Overheard said :

What JessP said.

I have a 10.30am-ish start tomorrow, but I’ll be in substantially earlier just to get a carpark. Little yellow envelopes are as prevalent as autumn leaves around here at the moment.

And you think Civic is better how? Try getting a long term parking spot in Civic at 10am, and that’s still paying $10+ a day.

Watson said :

Though I did ride in today – and severely regret it now watching the clouds roll in.

You’ve got to commit to it! Mudguards and good packable water proof jacket and riding in the rain becomes fun! I love it, except that I need to clean the bike up afterwards.

In general, if everyone does what is reasonable in their situation, then it should be all good. For example, I’m within a good riding distance of work, which has good change room facilities and I have a bus stop outside my front door. I also have no kids. I’d be an idiot to drive in that situation, so, we sold the second car. Six months on, it’s all good.

zippyzippy said :

Solidarity said :

No s*** sherlocks.

Now provide this transport.

Oh? Not feasible?

Typical Greens responce.

It’s totally feasible. I think it’s just the Government that’s saying it’s not feasible isn’t it? ie its the one that isn’t making it happen.

Immensely better public transport systems are run in far sparser and more chaotically planned cities than Canberra. The ACT government basically treats public transport as a social service for people who are too young, old, poor, drunk, etc. to drive. If it actually treated ACTION as an alternative to driving, more people might start using it.

Innovation said :

#7 Watson – I gotta know… pushie or motorbike?

lol, I would look really silly on a motorbike! I’m lucky enough (and pay enough rent too) that I can ride the push bike to work. Though I don’t do it often enough because I’m lazy. And I am not ashamed to admit that it’s usually the 30 mins circling to get a park at work after 9am that makes me start riding more often again! So for me, the strategy does work.

Overheard said :

Unfortunately the best bus route system available to humankind still doesn’t work for people who have two to three employers/clients in any one day, and just don’t have the luxury of the time for public transit.

Right on . . but those employers/clients that you speak of are usually in the ‘burbs, so parking isn’t a problem.

#7 Watson – I gotta know… pushie or motorbike?

As for other posts, a public transport service that picks up passengers along transport corridors (and not just interchanges) would allow commuters including parents to park part way and get an express bus to work. Limited eg two hour, parking would allow those with more than one employer to easily find a short term car park at each place of business.

Solidarity said :

No s*** sherlocks.

Now provide this transport.

Oh? Not feasible?

Typical Greens responce.

The ACT Goverments own research shows that building a Light Rail network in the ACT will raise productivity and provide an economic benefit.

Show me any study that indicates that acres and acres of cars doing nothing for the 9 hours their owners are working, provides the same thing.

… For dudding Canberra on public transport. (that was supposed to be the remainder of the sentence above)

Mysteryman said :

“It might seem like the sale of land in the Parliamentary Triangle for a 500-space car space is a positive move, but we think that in the long run this will only entrench Canberra’s transport problems”

That’s because you’re a muppet. If you want people to use public transport, make it worthwhile to them. Reliable service that’s easily accessible. If you can’t provide that, don’t expect to force them onto a crappy system by not providing car parks.

Yeah, Reliable service that’s easily accessible. I believe that’s what the greens are saying we should have as well. Sounds like you’re both mad at the government for dudding

qbngeek said :

Well isn’t life sweet for some people. I fit into all those categories, I drop the 2 kids off, drop my wife off, drop my best mate off, then go to work. I park about 1.5km from where I work and walk the rest of the way to save on paying for parking and the walk is almost quicker than getting in the congestion to get to the carpark.

Then I do it all again on the way home.

If I get a bus it would take just over an hour and I would have to sit in a bus that is too hot or too cold, with people I don’t know as opposed to being in my car which is nice and comfortable and usually has people in it I want to see (with the exception of my wife :-))

I would love to not drive to work, but thats not happening unless the greens convince my boss to let me work from home.

I did state I was only playing devil’s advocate!

Anywho, you are clearly car pooling, so good on you.

I do think it is good to think about ways to avoid turning our town into something that looks like one giant carpark though.

“It might seem like the sale of land in the Parliamentary Triangle for a 500-space car space is a positive move, but we think that in the long run this will only entrench Canberra’s transport problems”

That’s because you’re a muppet. If you want people to use public transport, make it worthwhile to them. Reliable service that’s easily accessible. If you can’t provide that, don’t expect to force them onto a crappy system by not providing car parks.

Watson said :

LeatherJen said :

What about all those parents who have to drop kids off and pick them up? Those people who car pool? Those people who don’t have a viable bus route?

Why does dropping off kids make a difference? I bring my daughter to school on the bike.

Well isn’t life sweet for some people. I fit into all those categories, I drop the 2 kids off, drop my wife off, drop my best mate off, then go to work. I park about 1.5km from where I work and walk the rest of the way to save on paying for parking and the walk is almost quicker than getting in the congestion to get to the carpark.

Then I do it all again on the way home.

If I get a bus it would take just over an hour and I would have to sit in a bus that is too hot or too cold, with people I don’t know as opposed to being in my car which is nice and comfortable and usually has people in it I want to see (with the exception of my wife :-))

I would love to not drive to work, but thats not happening unless the greens convince my boss to let me work from home.

zippyzippy said :

LeatherJen said :

What about all those parents who have to drop kids off and pick them up? Those people who car pool? Those people who don’t have a viable bus route?

Well, there’ll still be some parking there for people who have to drive. I think she’s just saying there’s a problem with building more and more car parks with the expectation that everyone will drive, and expecting that to be a solution. Instead, fix up the bus routes etc, give some proper solutions.

Unfortunately the best bus route system available to humankind still doesn’t work for people who have two to three employers/clients in any one day, and just don’t have the luxury of the time for public transit.

And same goes, no doubt, for commuting parents.

LeatherJen said :

What about all those parents who have to drop kids off and pick them up? Those people who car pool? Those people who don’t have a viable bus route?

Well, there’ll still be some parking there for people who have to drive. I think she’s just saying there’s a problem with building more and more car parks with the expectation that everyone will drive, and expecting that to be a solution. Instead, fix up the bus routes etc, give some proper solutions.

What JessP said.

I have a 10.30am-ish start tomorrow, but I’ll be in substantially earlier just to get a carpark. Little yellow envelopes are as prevalent as autumn leaves around here at the moment.

Clearly she doesnt have to work in the Parliamentry triangle.

Growling Ferret3:25 pm 01 Jun 11

Bring on pay parking in the triangle. $7 a day is a fair rate. Half the cost of Civic and the roughly the cost of a bus fare.

LeatherJen said :

What about all those parents who have to drop kids off and pick them up? Those people who car pool? Those people who don’t have a viable bus route?

Why does dropping off kids make a difference? I bring my daughter to school on the bike.

If everyone would car pool, there would not be a parking problem either. And I believe this statement is exactly about catering for more bus routes to cater for more people.

I’m just playing devil’s advocate here. I drive the car to work most days. Though I did ride in today – and severely regret it now watching the clouds roll in.

Solidarity said :

No s*** sherlocks.

Now provide this transport.

Oh? Not feasible?

Typical Greens responce.

It’s totally feasible. I think it’s just the Government that’s saying it’s not feasible isn’t it? ie its the one that isn’t making it happen.

What about all those parents who have to drop kids off and pick them up? Those people who car pool? Those people who don’t have a viable bus route?

Gotta say something, anything, to keep your name in the media.

The greens are like Mrs Chop —- Always have a gripe with somthin’

No s*** sherlocks.

Now provide this transport.

Oh? Not feasible?

Typical Greens responce.

I do agree with her but oh, how I love a conveniently located carpark when I’m driving!

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