STREET CAR PARKS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 73, 23 September 1930, Page 15

STREET CAR PARKS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—One would think that "Traveller No. 2" and "Victim" we're singled out for the special attention of the officers o£ the city traffic department, judging by the injured tone of their remarks ifi recent issues of "The Post." There are a great) many motorists in this city who have long since lost the art of using their legs, thereby necessitating the parking of their cars precisely at the front door of their homes and offices, but unfortunately tins procedure is not practical in Wellington owing to the city's restricted street widths, and these gentlemen get annoyed when requested to move cars from their adopted permanent car parks, the public streets, when they have exceeded all' reasonable time limits. One often observes cars parked with the front wheels alongside the kerb and rear wheels sometimes reaching to the crown of the street, causing some fellow-motorist a little excitement in an endeavour to pass a vehicle which chances to meet him at the spot. Leaving room for the other fellow was never thought of. Parking so as to obstruct the view of shop windows and entrances to buildings is practised by many car owners. The Featherston street access to the G.P.O. sometimes becomes more ot a cross-car park puzzle than a street, and if it were not for the occasional presence of one of our much-abused inspectors through traffic would bo impossible. There is another form of parking which a great and increasing number of car owners indulge in, and that is "all night" park j ing in the streets. In nearly every side street, and in many of the main thoroughfares can be observed numbers of cars parked. This community night parking is extremely dangerous, as not 1 per cent, of the cars' are lighted, and it is also very irritating to many residents in the immediate vicinity. A round-up of number plates by the traffic department would be welcomed by many long-suffering residents, and perhaps prevent a possible loss of life or limb. Traffic regulations were formulated and 'put into operation for the good of the majority, and in a city, with such a re-, striated street width as Wellington has strict adherence to traffic bylaws is absolutely essential, otherwise the safe working of our main streets would be iinposible. The time is fast) approaching when the parking of cars under any circumstances in Willis street and other busy streets will have to be prohibited. Finally, a word for our city traffic officers. It has been my experience and the experience of the majority of Wellington's motorists, that these officers are courteous,'fail", tactful, and generous in overlooking many a breach of traffic regulations. Their duties are not always pleasant, ana they have a lot to contend with from wrathful owners of cars. Warnings, no matter how often given, are ignored by many, and such drivers tend to make it hard for the casual offender when he chances to be qaught.—l am, etc., TACTFUL PARKING.