4 June 2013

Response to the residents of Power Street, Mawson

| Omnomnomnivore
Join the conversation
68
power street

Over the last month or so, those of us who park our cars in Power Street, Mawson and make our way to Woden have returned of an evening to find a letter left under our windscreen wipers signed “the residents of Power Street”. It is time for us to respond, in order to clarify a few things. We do apologise to those residents of Power Street who had nothing to do with this (we suspect these letter drops have been undertaken by a lone operator).

The letter reads:

DEAR DRIVER

We, the homeowners of Power Street, would like to ask for your consideration and help in NOT turning our street into a “park & ride “parking place.

Especially since there IS a PARK AND RIDE parking area two streets away from here, on the corner of Mawson Drive & Athlon Drive.

We would greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation in the matter.

Thank you in advance.

The residents of Power Street”

This might seem like a reasonable request on the surface of things. Images of congested tiny streets in Hughes or Curtin may spring to mind, but actually, Power Street is largely empty for most of the working week. Also, it is wide enough to have cars parked on both sides of the street with still enough room to drive each way down the road between them! If you feel so inclined, take a drive down there and see for yourself.

To the above letter, we respond:

“Dear Power Street Residents,

We, the motorists that park in Power Street, would like to respond to the delightful letter that we find on our windscreens of an evening (a copy is provided overleaf for your reference).

Firstly, we would like to bring your attention to the fact that Power St is a public street and is thus paid for by all rate payers – that’s right, it’s as much everybody’s as it is “yours”. Also, Power St lacks formal parking restrictions. Until such a time that formal parking restrictions are introduced, many of us respectfully decline your request that we not park in Power St as we are under no obligation to do so. If you would like formal parking restrictions to be introduced, you can lobby the ACT Government Territory and Municipal Services.

In your letter you refer to the “Park and Ride” arrangements on the corner of Mawson Drive and Athllon Drive. We would like to point out that “Park and Ride” requires that the motorist obtain a parking permit. To be eligible for a “Park and Ride” parking permit, the user must ensure that $90 per month ($40 for concessions) is loaded on to their MyWay card. For many, this is unnecessarily expensive, especially given we can park in Power St for free. Additionally, in your letter you profess that “Park and Ride” at Mawson is only two blocks away. We would like to correct you in that it is actually 1.5km away.

Also, many of us who park in Power St enjoy the thrill of a brisk walk, cycle or scoot to Woden of a crisp Canberra morn. Why would you deny us the opportunity for some moderate exercise and fresh air? You may be interested to know that 63.4% of Australians aged 18 and up are overweight or obese (ABS, 2012). We walkers, cyclists and scooters are just doing our best to avoid lifestyle diseases caused by a larger waist line.

Furthermore, we would like to highlight that Power St is unusual for a residential street in that it is vastly wide and houses stand on only one side. If you are experiencing difficulties in navigating your vehicle around our cars parked on the opposite side of this exceptionally wide street, please consider re-sitting your motor-vehicle licence test.

Lastly, we would like to say that we do our best in avoiding inconveniencing you, the residents. We do not park across or unnecessarily close to your driveways. Indeed, we rarely even park on your side of the road. This is why we were a little taken-aback by your request and felt the need to respond to your letter.

If you would like to reply to this letter, you will be able to find it on The Riot Act later on today.

Thanks very much for your understanding.

Warm regards,

Power Street Parkers”


View Larger Map

Join the conversation

68
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

The way I see it, it’s fine to park there and I wouldn’t care if I lived on the street. It’d only become an issue for me if they were parked on my side of the street, filling it right up and overlapping my driveway a little with large 4WDs so that I can’t see any cars coming when I’m reversing out of my driveway. That’s the only time I’d get annoyed at it. They could put up a no parking sign on that side of the street, but that’d be just as annoying for me if I lived there. What if I had visitors? The other side of the street would surely be filled up. If I had 3 cars at my house and someone visited, I wouldn’t want them to receive a fine. If it was just a no parking zone between certain hours, that’d be better i guess, but still potentially annoying. So I can’t really see a potential improvement for anyone. I wouldn’t have put the letter there unless that person was parked almost blocking my driveway in a large vehicle that i couldn’t see around regularly. If the street is in fact big enough to reverse out and have others drive around you even within their lane, or if the street is very quiet during the day, then i wouldn’t even be close to annoyed enough to write the letter. So to me, it seems like they should pretty much get over it. Unless people are parking on their side of the road too close to driveways unnecessarily and regularly, in which case they should be more considerate when possible. That’s the end of it really. I don’t see that it should become a war. I do think ppl who have nothing to do during the day tend to make issues out of tiny things that many with more active lives wouldn’t have a second thought about.

Dilandach said :

So you think that you have the right to park in any street you want for as long as you want and in front of whatever house then do it repeatedly every day?

This just proves how far removed from reality you are. Have you ever actually left Canberra? Or visited other streets near places that attract lots of visitors? At my office, our carpark fills up by 8.30am and the only other place to park legally is in the nearby residential streets. I’ve often wondered how on earth their bins get picked up every Friday because there are cars parked all along the curb, only leaving the driveways free.

In a quiet residential street in the middle of a ‘remote’ suburb, yes it is common courtesy to not park in front of the neighbour’s house. UNLESS there is nowhere else to park!

It might be news to you, but you do not own the street. Maybe go have a look at the deeds of your house to remind yourself where the boundaries of your control are.

Dilandach said :

…Yeah too bad for the people that live there, flap em. They have visitors? flap em. Someone parking too close to a drive way? flap em. Visibility issues? Flap em. Its just down to cheap and lazy people who really don’t care about the issues that they cause…

Yes, welcome to life in a city where other people also live and work! It might be a surprise to you, but it requires some willingness to share the spaces in the city with those other people, and perhaps even the occasional visitor. I know, it’s inherently annoying to have lots of people living in close proximity (or even just the handful that we have in Canberra). When I try to go out of my driveway in the morning, I usually have to wait for someone to finish past – that’s right, driving past my house, disturbing the tranquility of my garden! He just says
“Flap you (whatever that means?), I want to go to work too”. Then I usually have to wait again to turn out of my street. When I try to get onto busier roads, I have to wait longer for more people. They all just say
“Flap you, you have to give way”. The traffic is banked up because lots of people want to go to work at the same time
“Flap you” they say “We’ve got places to go to too”, and then we are all slowed further (or stopped altogether) because there are roadworks. The roadworkers say
“Flap you, can’t you see we’re trying to work here?!” Then when I eventually get through the traffic filled with all these “inconsiderate” flap-you people, I find I can’t even park right outside the door because someone else already did
“Flap you” he says, “I got here first”.

According to your logic, all these people should just stay off the roads until I get to work because they’re all inconveniencing me all the way to work, and on the way home again in the evening. They should stay out of the shops when I want to buy something because I have to wait for them all in the checkout queue. And who was it saying we should all have a bit of “common courtesy”?

When I lived in Kingston, people would take all the spots on the street outside our complex and even in our visitor parking when they came to the area for dinner. We knew not to leave after about 6pm or we’d lose our space. But that’s just the way it is when you live in certain areas. You get over it lol.

Dilandach said :

It isn’t from people parking across the street but rather in front and along both sides of the street. Knowing the typical horde that decends when there’s free parking on offer,

So you’re going on in general and not actually commenting about Power St, which is clearly different.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd9:58 pm 05 Jun 13

Dilandach said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

No, seriously, how does it inconvenience them? What exactly goes against common courtesy by parking across the street from somebody’s house?

It isn’t from people parking across the street but rather in front and along both sides of the street. Knowing the typical horde that decends when there’s free parking on offer, there would be those that push things right to the edge when parking. Both sides of someone’s driveway being covered by cars which no doubt causes issue for those backing out of their driveway having to back out straight past the cars on either side of the driveway further out onto the road than they would without them there.

When this was discussed before by someone else another piped up with ‘so? they should learn to reverse into their driveway so they don’t have to reverse out!’. Its their house, they live there. Why should they have to change their habits for those that are causing the issues?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

And yes, I would love a source stating that any area near someone’s house means it is not for public use.

So you think that you have the right to park in any street you want for as long as you want and in front of whatever house then do it repeatedly every day?

Yeah too bad for the people that live there, flap em. They have visitors? flap em. Someone parking too close to a drive way? flap em. Visibility issues? Flap em. Its just down to cheap and lazy people who really don’t care about the issues that they cause.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

By your logic, the park across from my house is for the residents that have a line of sight to it?

Not even close.

Umm yes. Unless I am breaking a road rule, then I can park in any street in canberra, as long and as often as I like. That is my right as a Australian citizen.

Luckily, disgusting NIMBY’s rarely get a say in the law making.

Also, again, L2 Drive.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

No, seriously, how does it inconvenience them? What exactly goes against common courtesy by parking across the street from somebody’s house?

It isn’t from people parking across the street but rather in front and along both sides of the street. Knowing the typical horde that decends when there’s free parking on offer, there would be those that push things right to the edge when parking. Both sides of someone’s driveway being covered by cars which no doubt causes issue for those backing out of their driveway having to back out straight past the cars on either side of the driveway further out onto the road than they would without them there.

When this was discussed before by someone else another piped up with ‘so? they should learn to reverse into their driveway so they don’t have to reverse out!’. Its their house, they live there. Why should they have to change their habits for those that are causing the issues?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

And yes, I would love a source stating that any area near someone’s house means it is not for public use.

So you think that you have the right to park in any street you want for as long as you want and in front of whatever house then do it repeatedly every day?

Yeah too bad for the people that live there, flap em. They have visitors? flap em. Someone parking too close to a drive way? flap em. Visibility issues? Flap em. Its just down to cheap and lazy people who really don’t care about the issues that they cause.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

By your logic, the park across from my house is for the residents that have a line of sight to it?

Not even close.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd9:02 pm 05 Jun 13

Dilandach said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Source?

I know that posts don’t come in pop up form to help you understand, but really?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

What inconvenience is it causing the residents though(making it hard to reverse is laughable. L2 DRIVE)

What’s it matter? Its where they live and shouldn’t have to work around people that want to turn the street into a car park because they’re too cheap or too lazy to park elsewhere.

Again, common courtesy to the people that actually live there is apparently far too much of an ask.

‘They’re inconvenienced? Pfft flap them.’

No, seriously, how does it inconvenience them? What exactly goes against common courtesy by parking across the street from somebody’s house?

And yes, I would love a source stating that any area near someone’s house means it is not for public use.

By your logic, the park across from my house is for the residents that have a line of sight to it?

Dilandach said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Source?

I know that posts don’t come in pop up form to help you understand, but really?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

What inconvenience is it causing the residents though(making it hard to reverse is laughable. L2 DRIVE)

What’s it matter? Its where they live and shouldn’t have to work around people that want to turn the street into a car park because they’re too cheap or too lazy to park elsewhere.

Again, common courtesy to the people that actually live there is apparently far too much of an ask.

‘They’re inconvenienced? Pfft flap them.’

But what if the people parking there are obeying the posted signs? I mean, surely the signs make parking in the street legal. Oh dear …

Instant Mash7:18 pm 05 Jun 13

Ceej1973 said :

Come park on my street. Slows idiots down, and defers the burglars interest from my house to your cars.

+1

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Source?

I know that posts don’t come in pop up form to help you understand, but really?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

What inconvenience is it causing the residents though(making it hard to reverse is laughable. L2 DRIVE)

What’s it matter? Its where they live and shouldn’t have to work around people that want to turn the street into a car park because they’re too cheap or too lazy to park elsewhere.

Again, common courtesy to the people that actually live there is apparently far too much of an ask.

‘They’re inconvenienced? Pfft flap them.’

I for one, would like to encourage the use of extreme violence by both sides in this conflict.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd4:32 pm 05 Jun 13

Dilandach said :

tim_c said :

Dilandach said :

Its obviously pissing off the residents.

Your point is? Did you consider maybe it’s the residents who are the problem, rather than the people parking their cars? Haven’t you noticed that some people seem to go through life just looking for things to be annoyed by? For example, some person on RA a few months back made a big deal about some cautionary/advisory signage and a couple of cyclists who treated it as such, rather than treating it as mandatory signage.

But in both cases it does show that there is a distinct lack of ability to show common courtesy in canberra. Not sure if its an APS inspired ‘flap you, you can’t tell me what to do’ attitude or something that just comes with living in canberra.

No regard at all for their actions. Even being as so far to say that if the parking is causing an inconvenience then its the resident’s fault and they should change.

What inconvenience is it causing the residents though(making it hard to reverse is laughable. L2 DRIVE)

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd4:29 pm 05 Jun 13

Dilandach said :

justin heywood said :

Geez, all you sanctimonious people criticising the Power St. parkers must have a tough time getting around Canberra.
Are you really claiming that you don’t park in residential streets?

‘Ralph, dear, why don’t we park here, there is plenty of room?’
‘Good God Hermoine, are you mad? Can’t you see this is a residential street? We have to drive to the nearest designated parking bay, in case we inconvenience the locals.’

Yeah right.

Its obviously pissing off the residents.

The parking isn’t there specifically for the purpose of allowing people to park ‘n ride without paying anything. Generally street parking is there for the residents, visitors and those who need it for whatever they’re doing in the general vicinity.

It isn’t a parking lot for the general public to park there all day nor people who are too cheap to pony up the cash to pay for designated parking or too lazy to catch the extra bus.

Its all about being considerate, something that seems to be lacking in Canberra. The attitude can be summed up with ‘flap you I got mine.’

Source?

Ronald_Coase4:14 pm 05 Jun 13

triffid said :

a group of pedantic, uber opinionated, truculant, self-entitled 13 year olds

You forgot myopic.

Captain RAAF said :

triffid said :

‘I’m right.’
‘No you’re not. I’m Right!’
‘Are not.’
‘Am too.’

Enough already. How about before the trend of acting like a group of pedantic, uber opinionated, truculant, self-entitled 13 year olds is ossified completely (thereby maintaining RA traditions, it seems), that a step back is taken and this is looked at with a little more sophistication. Yes, yes . . . everyone is entitled to an opinion. Better, though, if it’s an informed one.

So, how about everyone toddle off for a little while and learn ’emselves up on the term ‘amenity’ in the context of what it means within the discipline known as ‘town planning.’ Then, maybe, some of the discussion on here about issues such as this, or development generally, will have a degree of maturity and sophistication around them. You know . . . they’ll make a contribution to the sum of knowledge, rather than detract from it.

lost me at ossified I’m afraid.

PS: My dad could beat your dad!

Military intelligence is an oxymoron.

In your letter you refer to the “Park and Ride” arrangements on the corner of Mawson Drive and Athllon Drive. We would like to point out that “Park and Ride” requires that the motorist obtain a parking permit. To be eligible for a “Park and Ride” parking permit, the user must ensure that $90 per month ($40 for concessions) is loaded on to their MyWay card. For many, this is unnecessarily expensive, especially given we can park in Power St for free.

Not quite. Mawson Park + Ride is a combined permit/non-permit site. There are spots in which drivers can park for free without needing a permit. The $90 per month requirement for a permit to be issued helps make the carpark available for genuine, regular commuters thus encouraging bus use.

Captain RAAF2:55 pm 05 Jun 13

triffid said :

‘I’m right.’
‘No you’re not. I’m Right!’
‘Are not.’
‘Am too.’

Enough already. How about before the trend of acting like a group of pedantic, uber opinionated, truculant, self-entitled 13 year olds is ossified completely (thereby maintaining RA traditions, it seems), that a step back is taken and this is looked at with a little more sophistication. Yes, yes . . . everyone is entitled to an opinion. Better, though, if it’s an informed one.

So, how about everyone toddle off for a little while and learn ’emselves up on the term ‘amenity’ in the context of what it means within the discipline known as ‘town planning.’ Then, maybe, some of the discussion on here about issues such as this, or development generally, will have a degree of maturity and sophistication around them. You know . . . they’ll make a contribution to the sum of knowledge, rather than detract from it.

lost me at ossified I’m afraid.

PS: My dad could beat your dad!

‘I’m right.’
‘No you’re not. I’m Right!’
‘Are not.’
‘Am too.’

Enough already. How about before the trend of acting like a group of pedantic, uber opinionated, truculant, self-entitled 13 year olds is ossified completely (thereby maintaining RA traditions, it seems), that a step back is taken and this is looked at with a little more sophistication. Yes, yes . . . everyone is entitled to an opinion. Better, though, if it’s an informed one.

So, how about everyone toddle off for a little while and learn ’emselves up on the term ‘amenity’ in the context of what it means within the discipline known as ‘town planning.’ Then, maybe, some of the discussion on here about issues such as this, or development generally, will have a degree of maturity and sophistication around them. You know . . . they’ll make a contribution to the sum of knowledge, rather than detract from it.

Come park on my street. Slows idiots down, and defers the burglars interest from my house to your cars.

Dilandach said :

Still butt hurt over that are you? 🙂

I know being told you’re doing the wrong thing is a hard thing to accept but you should probably let it go, its not healthy to keep stewing about it like a toddler.

Oh, that was you was it? What a coincidence! Yes, I get annoyed (butt hurt, if you prefer, though I’ve never heard that term before) at people dreaming up their own rules to make life difficult for people just trying to go about their business, and then trying to enforce them when they have no place to do so. If I recall correctly, in the previous incidents referred to, you even acknowledged that no one had actually been discourteous, just that they had “disobeyed” some non-mandatory signage.

You might consider that courtesy needs to work both ways. Taking action to prevent someone from parking in your street just because “I don’t like it” doesn’t exactly fit in my understanding of “common courtesy”

Not sure if its an APS inspired ‘flap you, I need to be able to tell you what you can and can’t do so I can increase my own feeling of self-importance’ attitude or something that just comes with living in canberra. I must admit I don’t really know because I’ve only ever worked for non-government organisations.

No regard at all for their actions. Even being as so far to say that if someone parking their car legally in a public place is causing an inconvenience then it’s the fault of the person parking their car legally in a public place and they should change.

thebrownstreak6911:18 am 05 Jun 13

Dilandach said :

tim_c said :

Dilandach said :

Its obviously pissing off the residents.

Your point is? Did you consider maybe it’s the residents who are the problem, rather than the people parking their cars? Haven’t you noticed that some people seem to go through life just looking for things to be annoyed by? For example, some person on RA a few months back made a big deal about some cautionary/advisory signage and a couple of cyclists who treated it as such, rather than treating it as mandatory signage.

But in both cases it does show that there is a distinct lack of ability to show common courtesy in canberra. Not sure if its an APS inspired ‘flap you, you can’t tell me what to do’ attitude or something that just comes with living in canberra.

No regard at all for their actions. Even being as so far to say that if the parking is causing an inconvenience then its the resident’s fault and they should change.

+1. Very Canberran.

tim_c said :

Dilandach said :

Its obviously pissing off the residents.

Your point is? Did you consider maybe it’s the residents who are the problem, rather than the people parking their cars? Haven’t you noticed that some people seem to go through life just looking for things to be annoyed by? For example, some person on RA a few months back made a big deal about some cautionary/advisory signage and a couple of cyclists who treated it as such, rather than treating it as mandatory signage.

But in both cases it does show that there is a distinct lack of ability to show common courtesy in canberra. Not sure if its an APS inspired ‘flap you, you can’t tell me what to do’ attitude or something that just comes with living in canberra.

No regard at all for their actions. Even being as so far to say that if the parking is causing an inconvenience then its the resident’s fault and they should change.

I wonder whether there is an issue on “Garbage” day with truck access to the wheely bins?

I’ve been amazed at the ability of the trucks to reach around cars.

it’s quite a sight

tim_c said :

Dilandach said :

Its obviously pissing off the residents.

Your point is? Did you consider maybe it’s the residents who are the problem, rather than the people parking their cars? Haven’t you noticed that some people seem to go through life just looking for things to be annoyed by? For example, some person on RA a few months back made a big deal about some cautionary/advisory signage and a couple of cyclists who treated it as such, rather than treating it as mandatory signage.

Still butt hurt over that are you? 🙂

I know being told you’re doing the wrong thing is a hard thing to accept but you should probably let it go, its not healthy to keep stewing about it like a toddler.

Dilandach said :

Its obviously pissing off the residents.

Your point is? Did you consider maybe it’s the residents who are the problem, rather than the people parking their cars? Haven’t you noticed that some people seem to go through life just looking for things to be annoyed by? For example, some person on RA a few months back made a big deal about some cautionary/advisory signage and a couple of cyclists who treated it as such, rather than treating it as mandatory signage.

Dilandach said :

The parking isn’t there specifically for the purpose of allowing people to park ‘n ride without paying anything. Generally street parking is there for the residents, visitors and [b]those who need it for whatever they’re doing in the general vicinity.[/b]

Surely ‘general vicinity’ would include the town centre just across the road. BTW: Who said OP was parking and riding? Park ‘n ride in ACT refers to people that park their car, then ride the bus to their workplace, reducing the number of bus connections required. Why you’d bother to catch a bus from Power St to Woden Town Centre is beyond me – it would be quicker to walk than to wait for a bus from there!

Holden Caulfield10:13 am 05 Jun 13

Martlark said :

It’s a residential street, not a make your own car park. People living there should expect to have the quiet enjoyment of their quiet suburban location.

True, cars which are stationary for around eight hours a day are known to get very disruptive and rowdy.

Dilandach said :

justin heywood said :

The parking isn’t there specifically for the purpose of allowing people to park ‘n ride without paying anything. Generally street parking is there for the residents, visitors and those who need it for whatever they’re doing in the general vicinity.

It isn’t a parking lot for the general public to park there all day nor people who are too cheap to pony up the cash to pay for designated parking or too lazy to catch the extra bus.

well no, the parking isn’t specifically there… for anything other than, um, parking a lawfully registered motor vehicle for the driver / occupoants to undertake any activity they, as citizens, have the right to enjoy. like going to work, etc… residential proximinity does not confer any more or fewer rights on access to the lawful parking spots.

Hypothetical question on this topic:

In the past I have arrived quite late to work in Woden in a motor car, and on attempting to park, and starting where I usually find a stop, worked through the parking areas one by one, until eventually finding a park in a residential street.

While this is an unusually situation – usually you find a pay spot sooner or later – was I entitled to park in such a location, or should I have driven to the nearest local shopping centre or school, parked in a parking area, and caught a cab?

Dilandach said :

Evil_Kitten said :

Good on you. Why pay for parking – this is CANBERRA! I had to pay $7 at Woden the other day. I was in shock and dismay!

Wanna park? Be prepared to pay for it or run the risk of consequences. Don’t want to pay? Take a bus to work. I’ve saved myself around $100 a week in petrol and parking not to mention wear and tear on the car by catching the bus.

I don’t pay to park anywhere in Canberra and there’s never been any “consequences”.

It’s a residential street, not a make your own car park. People living there should expect to have the quiet enjoyment of their quiet suburban location.

1/ People are far too precious about others who choose to park in their street legally;
2/ If you are having trouble reversing out of your driveway, try reversing in instead;
3/ Parking a car anywhere as soon as possible in a trip and walking or cycling the remainder is better for our community;
4/ People parking in your street increases pedestrian activity and therefore passive surveillance, which is a good thing for residents.

To the OP, did you actually consult with the other drivers/parkers in the street or have you simply dragged them into your dispute? Also, your letter would have been more effective if you had asked the resident(s) to email you at a prearranged email address with more information as to what specifically is bothering them. For example, perhaps cars are parking in front of their garbage bins on garbage day meaning their bins don’t get collected. Lastly, not everyone has heard of RA. Your letter should at least have stated that RA is on the net and promoted the web address to give RA a potential boost in visitor numbers.

Power Street sounds like it’s full of flogs – or at least a few bored old people with nothing better to do but work themselves up into a lather looking at parked cars all day.

Feel the Power!

justin heywood said :

Geez, all you sanctimonious people criticising the Power St. parkers must have a tough time getting around Canberra.
Are you really claiming that you don’t park in residential streets?

‘Ralph, dear, why don’t we park here, there is plenty of room?’
‘Good God Hermoine, are you mad? Can’t you see this is a residential street? We have to drive to the nearest designated parking bay, in case we inconvenience the locals.’

Yeah right.

Its obviously pissing off the residents.

The parking isn’t there specifically for the purpose of allowing people to park ‘n ride without paying anything. Generally street parking is there for the residents, visitors and those who need it for whatever they’re doing in the general vicinity.

It isn’t a parking lot for the general public to park there all day nor people who are too cheap to pony up the cash to pay for designated parking or too lazy to catch the extra bus.

Its all about being considerate, something that seems to be lacking in Canberra. The attitude can be summed up with ‘flap you I got mine.’

justin heywood9:48 pm 04 Jun 13

Geez, all you sanctimonious people criticising the Power St. parkers must have a tough time getting around Canberra.
Are you really claiming that you don’t park in residential streets?

‘Ralph, dear, why don’t we park here, there is plenty of room?’
‘Good God Hermoine, are you mad? Can’t you see this is a residential street? We have to drive to the nearest designated parking bay, in case we inconvenience the locals.’

Yeah right.

Back when I used to (and could) park in Lyons followed by an enjoyable 15 min walk into Woden,
it was never about avoiding paying for parking. I have very little tolerance for driving around looking for a parking space, so park, walk, any money saved was a bonus.

Magoodotcom said :

I live on a street with houses on just one side, and a lovely treed park on the other. Whilst I moved here in 1997 in the full knowledge that the park would attract families and sports on weekends and at other times, I do object to people parking on both sides of the street thus making it impassable to two-way traffic and difficult to reverse out of my driveway. Further, there is a perfectly suitable carpark less than 100 metres (actual metres) from where most cars park in the street that remains laregely unused at these times.

All the resident is asking is to show a little consideration towards the residents who not only pay the same rates as you do, but who also happen to LIVE THERE.

geesh…

The difference being Power Street could fit six cars across its width comfortably.

Total non-issue.

People park and ride from the front of my house every day.

Can’t say I ever thought to hold it against them

Dilandach said :

Wanna park? Be prepared to pay for it or run the risk of consequences. Don’t want to pay? Take a bus to work. I’ve saved myself around $100 a week in petrol and parking not to mention wear and tear on the car by catching the bus.

Really? That’s the way it should be? Why don’t we save a fortune on parking signs and just ban all street parking everywhere in the city?

MrBigEars said :

pptvb said :

Like this
http://www.shockya.com/news/wp-content/uploads/walking-dead-season-3-bus.jpg

50% more dystopia!

http://bavatuesdays.com/files/2012/04/ROAD_WARRIOR_16X9-Title-1-Ch10-Ch12-01.gif

That part of the movie should be dubbed over with “oh god! free parking!” “parking! the legends were true!” “let us in!”

banco said :

Houses aren’t exactly immune to repercussions from a keying incident.

A lot easier to let a car tyre down or key the side than attempt to skulk around someone’s house.

Evil_Kitten said :

Good on you. Why pay for parking – this is CANBERRA! I had to pay $7 at Woden the other day. I was in shock and dismay!

Wanna park? Be prepared to pay for it or run the risk of consequences. Don’t want to pay? Take a bus to work. I’ve saved myself around $100 a week in petrol and parking not to mention wear and tear on the car by catching the bus.

Information about free parking is a rarity in Canberra.
The op probably won’t park there this week, you’ll find it’ll be a car park already.

Good on you. Why pay for parking – this is CANBERRA! I had to pay $7 at Woden the other day. I was in shock and dismay!

Gerry-Built said :

Nice response. I read it; but all I hear is “blah, blah, blah… can’t bothered paying for parking actively avoids paying for parking because I feel no need to contribute funds to the ACT Gov anymore than I have to…”

As someone who ‘parks and rides’ (my pushie, and not in that street), I’d just like to say, “fixed that for you”.

knuckles said :

So you’ve gone out of your way to piss off the residents of the street where you leave your car unattended each day.

I’d be making sure my NRMA road assistance membership is up to date if I were you.

Houses aren’t exactly immune to repercussions from a keying incident.

Report the letters for littering. There’s a nice fine to be collected.
If it remains anonymous, all the better, fine everyone in Power Street.

Madam Cholet4:45 pm 04 Jun 13

Ronald_Coase said :

Sometimes it’s better to have people think you’re annoying, than confirming it for them in writing. However if your goal was to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, I admire your effort. 10 out of 10!

Ha ha. That!

Sounds much more civil than the story that I saw in the Crimes the other day where 10+ cars in a street in Curtin with similar issues had been keyed one day.

Ronald_Coase4:19 pm 04 Jun 13

Sometimes it’s better to have people think you’re annoying, than confirming it for them in writing. However if your goal was to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, I admire your effort. 10 out of 10!

It should be signed

Power Street Smart arses!

It’s much more their street than yours, because THEY LIVE THERE!

I live on a street with houses on just one side, and a lovely treed park on the other. Whilst I moved here in 1997 in the full knowledge that the park would attract families and sports on weekends and at other times, I do object to people parking on both sides of the street thus making it impassable to two-way traffic and difficult to reverse out of my driveway. Further, there is a perfectly suitable carpark less than 100 metres (actual metres) from where most cars park in the street that remains laregely unused at these times.

All the resident is asking is to show a little consideration towards the residents who not only pay the same rates as you do, but who also happen to LIVE THERE.

geesh…

People like this really annoy me. Have they got nothing better to do than stare out their living room window all day fuming at a row of parked cars?! If you live within walking distance of a town centre, you’ve got to expect people are going to want to park near your home (and anyone who is happy to walk a little bit further to avoid parking in the town centres, I’d say “Good on ’em!”).

It’s the same sort of thing as that guy on McCulloch Street (and I suspect people who live on Dalrymple Street, Flinders Way and Eucumbene Drive) who after choosing to live on a thoroughfare in/out of the suburb, decided he didn’t like people driving past his home, so he lobbied his neighbours and then for some strange reason it was the government’s problem to waste taxpayers’ money doing something about it – something that ends up inconveniencing the rest of the community for the sake of satisfying the egos of a couple of NIMBYs.

That said, I don’t think I’d have bothered writing a letter in response.

tuco said :

Sigh. I knew there’d be a cyclist angle in here somewhere. Mind you, 10 points for the use of “scoot”.

is it possible to drive a car dressed in lycra?

but i concur with gerry-built’s perspective in that i think i would have let the residents’ note through to the ‘keeper. now you’ve let the cat out of the bag. d’oh.

The likely response:

Dear people who park on Power St,
Hope you enjoyed having your car keyed and your tires let down.
See you tomorrow,

Residents of Power St.

knuckles said :

So you’ve gone out of your way to piss off the residents of the street where you leave your car unattended each day.

I’d be making sure my NRMA road assistance membership is up to date if I were you.

Yeah, that.
It’s the difference between being right and being smart.

Holden Caulfield3:06 pm 04 Jun 13

Gerry-Built said :

Nice response.

Don’t agree. I thought it was pretty poor.

Gerry-Built said :

…all I hear is “blah, blah, blah… can’t bothered paying for parking…”

That, I agree with.

Can’t say I would have been bothered to respond at all.

knuckles said :

I’d be making sure my NRMA road assistance membership is up to date if I were you.

I’d also suspect TAMS will be investing in some nice new signs ASAP… GovCo can’t miss out on a few dollars a day in parking fees…

New Yeah said :

So passive, so aggressive.

Yeah, I was wondering, was it passive aggressive, or just aggressive? Suspect the OP is female.

Any day now there’ll be a post to RA asking for things that can be done to cars cluttering up your street (like pressing dog pooh into the air intakes).

Sigh. I knew there’d be a cyclist angle in here somewhere. Mind you, 10 points for the use of “scoot”.

So you’ve gone out of your way to piss off the residents of the street where you leave your car unattended each day.

I’d be making sure my NRMA road assistance membership is up to date if I were you.

fromthecapital2:53 pm 04 Jun 13

Gerry-Built said :

Nice response. I read it; but all I hear is “blah, blah, blah… can’t bothered paying for parking…”

+1

If it escalates I suspect the residents would win.

MrBigEars said :

I long for a dystopian future, where residents can block parking with a burnt out bus at the end of their street.

Like this
http://www.shockya.com/news/wp-content/uploads/walking-dead-season-3-bus.jpg

So passive, so aggressive. That said, I’m all for parking on streets.

Instant Mash2:29 pm 04 Jun 13

Honestly, I don’t see what the huge problem is. The street is rather wide and it’s not like these people are doing constant burnouts or anything. If they were parking on your lawn or something, sure. But by the sounds of it, they’re barely even using your side of the road at all.

I long for a dystopian future, where residents can block parking with a burnt out bus at the end of their street.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd2:20 pm 04 Jun 13

NIMBY’s at it again.

Nice response. I read it; but all I hear is “blah, blah, blah… can’t bothered paying for parking…”

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.