PARKING PROBLEM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 310, 22 March 1928, Page 14

PARKING PROBLEM

CITY STREET CLEARANCE COUNCIL MAY ACT SUPPORT FROM MOTORISTS Within the next tew weeks the City Council will be called upon once again to do something about city traffic control. rpHE motoring fraternity, which is the one most concerned, is prepared to support the council. The main questions will be those of car parking and pedestrian control. The By-laws Committee is at present considering the position, and the chief traffic inspector has reported on proposals to prohibit parking in certain streets, to reduce standing time in Queen Street, and generally to relieve congestion and inconvenience. The Sun interviewed several prominent motorists about the proposals this morning, the general impression being as stated. NOT SUFFICIENT Mr. A. J. Entrican, chairman of the committee concerned, remarks that Queen Street might be relieved by reducing the standing limit to 10 minutes. The opinion of Mr. F. G. Farrell, who is an executive member of the A.A.A. and Motor Traders’ Association, thinks that there is a big “might,” and that, while there is any latitude, cars will stand in Queen Street, as at present—some of them, most of the day. Mr. Entrican suggests that parking places might be created at tram termini, it being uneconomical to bring cars into the city when they are not used during the day. The general impression among motorists is that they are best capable of deciding their own economic difficulties. “Providing, private feeder services to trams might boost the overcrowded trams along,” remarked Mr. Farrell, but people prefer their cars when they can use them if they want them. LESS PARKING FAVOURED Mr. Farrell, who fairly represented the views of those interviewed, was heartily in favour of the council taking action to minimise parking, which at present caused danger and inconvenience. He pointed out that in Fort, Albert, Victoria and Wyndham Streets, as examples, people paid high rates and simply could not get access to their property. Further, he pointed out that there werq at least two large parking stations in the city receiving poor patronage, and that if a demand was created others would automatically appear. * One place in Albert Street is prepared to provide sufficient accommodation on first-class lines for all the cars that park in Albert Street. PRIVATE ENTERPRISE READY Depreciation, it is pointed out, costs more than parking in a proper place, and private enterprise will not be wanting when Auckland follows other more modern cities and clears its main streets. "We can only hope that the council will, for once, do something that the majority will favour,” remarked another motorist, “and follow the good example of forcing foot traffic to obey he cross-roads-at-right-angles rules. “If we can clear the sides of the streets so that the pedestrians and motorists can get a clear view of each other we will soon be a much safer city.” Another motorist, with experience in other countries, pointed out that Auckland was not really so badly off as it thought for parking space. There were a number of wide streets within a few blocks of the busy centres’ which carried comparatively little traffic, and could be used to relieve city congestion. In other big cities he pointed out it was not unusual to have to take a, street-car to the parking place, perhaps a mile away, and he saw no reason why Auckland should not start to get used to the idea and the necessity.