HEAD IN OR TAIL IN?

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 184, 1 May 1940, Page 6

HEAD IN OR TAIL IN?

Angle-Parking Problem CITY ENGINEER’S VIEW A case heard in the Magistrates' Court, Wellington, -recently depended on whether a motorist, when parking at an angle on Lambton Quay, or any other city street, should allow the tai! of his car to encroach on the footpath to such an extent as to be an obstruction to pedestrians. The magistrate ruled that, as the footpaths were constructed for the use of pedestrians, any such obstruction which formed a danger to them was illegal.

Since that case was heard there has been a noticeable improvement in the manner of parking on Lambton Quay, but the decision lias had little apparent effect in other parts of the city where either angle or parallel parking is permitted. On any morning of the week cars may be seen in Allen and Blair Streets encroaching three or four feet on the footpath. Possibly this practice in these streets —where the markets are situated—is the outcome of long usage. Certainly the drivers never give the subject a thought; they just back in till the rear tyres of their vehicles touch the kerb, and leave them there, perhaps for hours, witli the whole rear part overhanging the path.The city engineer, Mr. K. E. Luke, who is the head of the council traffic department, said in an interview yesterday that it had been his intention to give this problem consideration after attention had been drawn to the point in Court recently. He was inclined to agree with the magistrate’s decision. The remedy, he thought, might lie in an alteration in the manner of parking. In most places in Australia where angle-parking was allowed the practice was for the motorist to stop with the bonnet toward the footpath so that the front bumper was flush with the kerb. It, was much easier for a motorist to drive forward into a parking place than to back in, and. moreover, cars could be packed closer together. On the other hand, the driver bad to back out, possibly on to a tram line, -but, providing he kept a lively lookout, that was not difficult. He was inclined at present to recommend that this practice be tried out in a suitable place in the city, said Mr. Luke. At all events it would prevent motorists getting into trouble through overstepping the mark when backing into a parking place. Angle-parking on Lambton Quay had proved a great convenience to many people, but it should not be used to create a danger to pedestrians.