MOTOR PARKING AND STREET CONVENIENCES.

Evening Star, Issue 20051, 17 December 1928, Page 16

MOTOR PARKING AND STREET CONVENIENCES.

10 TUB EDITOR. Sir, —1 have noticed in llio ‘Star' recently Unit tlio municipal inspectors have been rightly active in, prosecuting offenders against the traffic ami parking by-laws. 1 notice, too, that a certain insurance agent is hot over his conviction for allowing bis car to stand in the street for more than fifteen minutes. Was it “ R.M.” who took this wild man in hand and gave him a sound talking to in the ‘Star’ the other night? Well, lie thoroughly deserved all ho got, and needs some more of the same plain speaking, and no doubt “R.M.” will give it to him if ho dare howl again over his just prosecution. Tho day is now coming when in the interest of the public tho whole of the standing car nuisance will have to he swept away. The city is gradually being blocked up by rich men’s cars crowding up every street. If tho thing goes on much farther we shall June to transfer our business on the mam streets away to tho Taicri Plain and allow tho ear owners to take possession of the city. Our streets were intended for tho use of travel, trade and business. 'Wo are gradually allowing them to bo turned into show parades for tho rich taxi owners and tho flaunting few who object to stabling their horses properly in some poor man’s garage. A writer in last night’s issue signing herself “Tired Mother” takes tho tramways department to task for not affording tired mothers some convenience for _ resting with their children while waiting for cars at the Monument. Tho writer lias a quiet dig at the gentlemen who occupy tho “ holies only” scat, and suggests a reform. The wonder is that someone has not taken up the .subject of accommodation for users of the trams at this particular place long ere this. J.b is not only a disgrace to the tramway department, but is a reflection on the common sense of tho citizens that such a particularly busy square should so long have been allowed to become a gawking and expectorating centre of jostling “touts” and evident loafers. Crowded on both sides of tho angle, with taxi car gentlemen lolling their time away in gorgeous surroundings, tho busy public have perforce to dodgo and creep their various ways from or to the sidewalk. Hero is seen tho car-park-ing taxi stand menace in all its brazen flare. There is scarcely any wonder why writers like “HAL” arc fain to remind the owners of cars that the public are getting well fed up with tho nuisance.

Surely something can bo done by the city authorities to abate these things. Tho Monument, of course, will have to go some time, and tho lavatory should never have been stuck where it is, right in the centre of tho busiest place in the city, so why not sweep tho whole thing away now. Shunt the taxis, 100, but if it is found to be absolutely necessary to have, a taxi available at this particular place, allow one or two to stand there, and so soon as one is engaged allow another to take its place, but so that no more than one or two cars should he oa tho stand at tho same time. The same can be said regarding tho old Post Office stand; cars should ho on the stand at tho same time. The same can bo said regarding tho old Post Office stand; oars blocking up the street there are a, real hindrance to loaded conveyances toiling up the rise. How long, for instance, are the business people of Moray place to stand the car-block before their places of business? During busy days it is almost impossible to cross the street for jambed-up ears. Surely the businessmen who arc paying high rents and rates here should be allowed the chance of making a living. Tho fact is that the car-own-ing and car-parking mania has bereft us of our common sense. Why should cars bo allowed to jamb up our streets during the day, anyhow? AVc used not to allow horses and buggies to stand in the streets all day, so why ears?— I am, etc., Jove. December 15.