18 June 2012

Up up up go the parking costs

| johnboy
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parking

As the member for motorists Alistair Coe is going in to bat for the besieged Canberra drivers.

From next month, Canberrans will be slugged another $625 in parking every year. ACT Shadow Transport Services Minister Alistair Coe said fees should not rise yet again to make up for ACT Labor’s mismanagement of the Budget.

“The 12 per cent parking cost increase revealed in Estimates today will be felt greatly by Canberrans who are already experiencing huge cost of living pressures under ACT Labor,” Mr Coe said.

“Canberrans are already struggling with rates that have doubled in many suburbs and will increase by a further 10 per cent this year. In addition to skyrocketing rates, water costs have tripled and electricity is up 85 per cent with another 17 per cent increase as of next month. “Given catching a bus is impractical for many Canberrans, this increase effectively punishes people who have no choice but to drive.

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Nifty said :

BicycleCanberra said :

The way things are going, you will soon need a wheelbarrow to carry all the change you’ll need to park in Canberra….

Why? Aren’t you driving a car with 4 empty seats and a large boot space? Should be plenty of room for coins.

The Sandman family isn’t worried. Mrs Sandman parks out the front of her office every day with not a coin spent. Her new motorbike paid for itself in the first year. Minus 6.3 didn’t even stop her at 7am the other morning.

Just put in more speed cameras.

Tah Dah! More revenue.

How about fining the idiots driving around with their foglights on? That’d help balance the books.

Chop71 said :

Spectra said :

Yet another press release with a bunch of context-less “statistics” picked to support an argument without giving you enough information to make your own mind up:

From next month, Canberrans will be slugged another $625 in parking every year.

Jesus. Considering I pay maybe $20 a year in parking that’s going to be a massive increase for me…
Is that based on the average per person? Average per registered vehicle? Average for a person who works in civic and parks there every day? Some number you just made up?

And this:

“Canberrans are already struggling with rates that have doubled in many suburbs

What a completely useless, misleading “fact”. Doubled since when exactly? If it’s since 1923, well you know what? I’m fine with that. If it’s since last year? Less good. Sitting out there on it’s own with no attached timeframe? Useless for coming to any conclusions. (Same goes for the “85% increase” in power prices).

Do people actually fall for this stuff? (Don’t answer that – if the answer is what I think it is, I’m happier not knowing).

Anyone can make statistics up, but should we sit in the corner and take more medicine?

As Egyptian musician Omar Kamel said about the choices in this week’s elections:
“Given a choice between eating s*** or eating s***, most Egyptians have decided they’re not hungry,”

pink little birdie10:37 am 19 Jun 12

Just put in more speed cameras.

Tah Dah! More revenue.

In one of the ACT budget issues of one of the canberra free magazines it said that the ACT is making around $2 million less than expected from the speed cameras.

Just put in more speed cameras.

Tah Dah! More revenue.

And if they put in tailgating cameras, they’d never have money problems ever again.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back9:48 am 19 Jun 12

patrick_keogh said :

Just put in more speed cameras.

Tah Dah! More revenue.

Putting in more speed cameras also has the advantage that it is voluntary taxation. Some of us elect to not pay this extra tax.

Exactly. How hopeless do you have to be to be pinged by a marked, fixed speed camera?

I still maintain cameras would be good for places where speed needs to be more strictly controlled, such as in school zones.

patrick_keogh9:05 am 19 Jun 12

Just put in more speed cameras.

Tah Dah! More revenue.

Putting in more speed cameras also has the advantage that it is voluntary taxation. Some of us elect to not pay this extra tax.

pink little birdie10:39 pm 18 Jun 12

The ACT Government does have prepaid parking options which currently bring parking down to around $5.00 a day in Belconnen. I assume you can get prepaid parking tickets for Civic too.

How much Government owned and run parking still actually exists in the city these days, compared to privately operated parking?

Off the top of my head, all the open air parking that was turned into the Canberra Centre parking has gone, and there are plans for the last remaining open air park to be turned into buildings. The open air parking that used to be between Farrell Place and Edinburgh Ave has long gone. 121 Marcus Clarke St ate more. The parking on London Cct opposite Rydges, while still open air, is now privately owned and operated. The Government parking between the Courts and London Cct is 4hrs max now. I’m not sure how much of the parking near the Canberra Theatre or the Civic Pool is long stay, but I’d guess at least some if it is short stay.

I know this is Civic centric – it’s where I work, so I rarely need to park for any long period anywhere else – but it seems to me that the impact of the Government increasing parking fees will naturally be lessened by the fact that it’s rapidly disappearing. I must remember to let Alistair know the next time the privately operating parking I use on the infrequent occasions I drive to work puts up their fees. After all, he’s just looking out for my best interests, not trying to score cheap political points…right?

BicycleCanberra said :

Canberra has one of the lowest all day parking rates in the western world and also compared to cities of comparable size. There are many locations throughout the city where parking is still free! This really is a modest increase that will do nothing to increase public transport use.

The problem is not so much the cost of parking in Canberra but the antiquated technology used in our public car parks. You have no real choice but to cough up the exact amount in coins. It may have been OK 20 years ago when it cost no more than $2.50 a day to park in Civic and you could pay for a day’s parking with just two coins. However, at $12 a day now, that means a MINIMUM of six $2 pieces. $13.50 a day will mean a MINIMUM of eight coins: six $2, one $1 and one 50 cent piece.

In North Sydney (and, I believe, the Sydney City Council area as well), you can pay for parking using a credit card or your mobile phone (http://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/www/html/5359-how-to-pay-for-your-parking-at-a-pay–go-meter.asp?intSiteID=1). Yes, they charge more than in Canberra but because the process is more convenient and civilised, it is nowhere near so objectionable.

The way things are going, you will soon need a wheelbarrow to carry all the change you’ll need to park in Canberra. Who is the Government really trying to look after – metal workers’ jobs at the mint? After all, it is the only heavy industry we have in the ACT…

Deref said :

Don’t worry. Zed’ll fix it. Free parking and free beer for all!

Huzzah! As long as I get to choose the beer…

Spectra said :

Deref said :

Don’t worry. Zed’ll fix it. Free parking and free beer for all!

Well bloody hell! If he’d just said that, I could have saved myself a lot of typing and just said “you’ve got my vote!”.

Beware of the Greek – aspirational bearing free now pay LOTS later.

FD10 said :

I’ll assume you’ve raised these issues with Mr Coe? No? Then whinging about it on RiotACT for absolutely no gain is doing everyone a service. But really, I can’t say I’d expect less from someone who, when the issue of parking costs are brought up, can really only offer this retort:

Interesting you mention raising issue with Mr Coe. Back in April I felt compelled to respond to one of the Liberal party’s daily rants about Labor by sending an email to Mr Coe (office). I very politely pointed out that I was sick to death about hearing how bad Labor has done and asked how he was going to fix the issue he was whining about, which ironically was bus dead running, an issue he has YET again raised this week. But never heard a word back.

Mr Coe, hope you and your party are reading, but this little black duck ain’t gonna fall for your negative campaign against Labor. Sure they are not perfect and have made mistakes, but until such time as you can show me how your gonna do any different you will not be getting my vote. This goes double for your current health campaign.

johnboy said :

I’d argue most of those cities have better public transport and more centralised design.

i.e. with poorer public transport, and a less centralised design, there is proportionally higher demand for private-car facilities in Canberra.

Therefore parking in Canberra should be… cheaper?

If prices are high enough, then the private industry should enter the market and replace inefficient government. People go on and on about privatising ACTION.

That’s probably the local government plan anyway, from the Transport for Canberra 2012–2031 document: http://i.imgur.com/xAwfh.jpg

davo101 said :

How many Canberra households have two “parents” (are these somehow different to people?) both of whom drive to town centres every day and park long enough to rack up the full day charge?

Yes, those are Working Families, and I’m so glad that all these bad things only affect them. I’m not a parent or a working family, so I’ll get off scott free. Apparently. Or that nice Mr Coe would say “people” rather than “families” or “parents”.

Deref said :

Don’t worry. Zed’ll fix it. Free parking and free beer for all!

Well bloody hell! If he’d just said that, I could have saved myself a lot of typing and just said “you’ve got my vote!”.

Spectra said :

Yet another press release with a bunch of context-less “statistics” picked to support an argument without giving you enough information to make your own mind up:

From next month, Canberrans will be slugged another $625 in parking every year.

Jesus. Considering I pay maybe $20 a year in parking that’s going to be a massive increase for me…
Is that based on the average per person? Average per registered vehicle? Average for a person who works in civic and parks there every day? Some number you just made up?

And this:

“Canberrans are already struggling with rates that have doubled in many suburbs

What a completely useless, misleading “fact”. Doubled since when exactly? If it’s since 1923, well you know what? I’m fine with that. If it’s since last year? Less good. Sitting out there on it’s own with no attached timeframe? Useless for coming to any conclusions. (Same goes for the “85% increase” in power prices).

Do people actually fall for this stuff? (Don’t answer that – if the answer is what I think it is, I’m happier not knowing).

I’ll assume you’ve raised these issues with Mr Coe? No? Then whinging about it on RiotACT for absolutely no gain is doing everyone a service. But really, I can’t say I’d expect less from someone who, when the issue of parking costs are brought up, can really only offer this retort:

Spectra said :

Considering I pay maybe $20 a year in parking that’s going to be a massive increase for me

(my emphasis added)

This may shock you: the world does not revolve around you, and while this parking increase may not directly impact upon you, it does not mean that it will not impact upon others. Using that logic, let’s scrap hospitals from the public purse because haven’t needed treatment at one for nearly 20 years. What a stupid idea, so let’s just call a spade a spade, you’re so politicised and anti-Liberal that you’re willing to make a drongo argument to incite negative feelings on the internet. Good for you, now how about you direct your rage and anger to growing up making your objectives clear.

Of course I now look forward to you reading this and attempting to make all sorts of uneducated guesses about me and my motives for posting. Flame-on.

Simple – if you cannot afford it then use alternate transport

Growling Ferret4:34 pm 18 Jun 12

cough *parliamentary triangle* cough

Having enjoyed the free parking there for years, and now working in the city, I understand that it would not be fair to impose pay parking at the Civic rate in the Parl triangle due to lack of facilities for shopping and convenience.

But it would make sense to whack employees there at a Woden/Belconnen/Tuggeranong rate ($8 a day?) – and increase patronage on ACTION, and lessen the parking issues there….

Look, you’ve got two choices.

1 – Look at parking costs in other cities and realise we still have it good here.

2 – Buy a hearse and rely on parking inspectors never questioning your use of loading zones.

Whoops looks like yet another typo in one of Mr Coe’s rants. I think the first sentence should be:

From next month, Canberrans will be slugged up to another $625 in parking every year.

How many Canberra households have two “parents” (are these somehow different to people?) both of whom drive to town centres every day and park long enough to rack up the full day charge?

Spectra said :

Yet another press release with a bunch of context-less “statistics” picked to support an argument without giving you enough information to make your own mind up:

From next month, Canberrans will be slugged another $625 in parking every year.

Jesus. Considering I pay maybe $20 a year in parking that’s going to be a massive increase for me…
Is that based on the average per person? Average per registered vehicle? Average for a person who works in civic and parks there every day? Some number you just made up?

And this:

“Canberrans are already struggling with rates that have doubled in many suburbs

What a completely useless, misleading “fact”. Doubled since when exactly? If it’s since 1923, well you know what? I’m fine with that. If it’s since last year? Less good. Sitting out there on it’s own with no attached timeframe? Useless for coming to any conclusions. (Same goes for the “85% increase” in power prices).

Do people actually fall for this stuff? (Don’t answer that – if the answer is what I think it is, I’m happier not knowing).

Don’t worry. Zed’ll fix it. Free parking and free beer for all!

BicycleCanberra3:47 pm 18 Jun 12

Canberra has one of the lowest all day parking rates in the western world and also compared to cities of comparable size. There are many locations throughout the city where parking is still free! This really is a modest increase that will do nothing to increase public transport use.

GLOBAL COMPARISON
TOP 50 DAILY
PARKING RATES* (USD)
Oslo 89.04
Copenhagen 73.11
Melbourne 69.53
Sydney 67.42
London – City 65.97
Tokyo 62.00
London – West End 57.73
Vienna 57.51
Amsterdam 57.51
Geneva 46.98
Zurich 46.98
Helsinki 46.01
The Hague 44.57
Brisbane 41.09
New York – Midtown 41.00
Paris 40.26
Hamburg 40.26
Frankfurt 38.82
Madrid 38.82
Honolulu, HI 38.00
Düsseldorf 35.95
Athens 35.95
Boston, MA 34.00
Edinburgh 32.99
Manchester 32.82
Perth 32.66
Moscow 32.63
Stockholm 32.38
Chicago, IL 32.00
Birmingham 31.34
Bristol 31.34
Kyiv 30.43
Rotterdam 30.19
Los Angeles, CA 30.00
New York – Downtown 30.00
Seoul 29.51
Tel Aviv 29.10
Leeds 28.86
Munich 28.76
Stuttgart 28.76
Dublin 28.76
Hong Kong 28.25
Belfast 27.71
Rome 27.32
Philadelphia, PA 26.00
San Diego, CA 26.00
San Francisco, CA 26.00
Berlin 25.88
Milan 25.88
Utrecht 25.88

But how come they only get two weeks off a year? Are they saving up their leave for something else? What if they go shopping on the weekend, won’t that increase their parking costs?

Oh, parking’s going up a dollar a day…..is that all?

Spectra said :

Yet another press release with a bunch of context-less “statistics” picked to support an argument without giving you enough information to make your own mind up:

From next month, Canberrans will be slugged another $625 in parking every year.

Jesus. Considering I pay maybe $20 a year in parking that’s going to be a massive increase for me…
Is that based on the average per person? Average per registered vehicle? Average for a person who works in civic and parks there every day? Some number you just made up?

And this:

“Canberrans are already struggling with rates that have doubled in many suburbs

What a completely useless, misleading “fact”. Doubled since when exactly? If it’s since 1923, well you know what? I’m fine with that. If it’s since last year? Less good. Sitting out there on it’s own with no attached timeframe? Useless for coming to any conclusions. (Same goes for the “85% increase” in power prices).

Do people actually fall for this stuff? (Don’t answer that – if the answer is what I think it is, I’m happier not knowing).

Anyone can make statistics up, but should we sit in the corner and take more medicine?

Yet another press release with a bunch of context-less “statistics” picked to support an argument without giving you enough information to make your own mind up:

From next month, Canberrans will be slugged another $625 in parking every year.

Jesus. Considering I pay maybe $20 a year in parking that’s going to be a massive increase for me…
Is that based on the average per person? Average per registered vehicle? Average for a person who works in civic and parks there every day? Some number you just made up?

And this:

“Canberrans are already struggling with rates that have doubled in many suburbs

What a completely useless, misleading “fact”. Doubled since when exactly? If it’s since 1923, well you know what? I’m fine with that. If it’s since last year? Less good. Sitting out there on it’s own with no attached timeframe? Useless for coming to any conclusions. (Same goes for the “85% increase” in power prices).

Do people actually fall for this stuff? (Don’t answer that – if the answer is what I think it is, I’m happier not knowing).

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