PARKING METERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1938, Page 8

PARKING METERS

REVENUE FROM STREETS. AMERICAN INNOVATION. Despite the opposition generally evident, when municipalities in America began adopting parking meters, thereby obtaining revenue from the streets, the system has continued, and that it is not whofly unpopular, even with motorists, may be gathered from the following statement to the Manchester Guardian by its New York correspondent:— “An ever-pressing problem for municipal authorities in the United States is that of finding parking space for motor cars in congested areas. Although vast sums have been spent in recent years to improve highways, most of this money has been expended to build express roads through the open country, and in the cities, except for improved street surfaces, conditions are much as they were in the days of horse-drawn vehicles. In a country where there are about 25,000,000 private motor cars for 30,000,000 families, and where each car is driven many miles every year, congestion becomes a serious matter. Every inch of available kerbside space in the typical business district is lined all day long with motor cars, and the moment any space becomes vacant it is filled again. In most cities large private car parks are numerous, where a vehicle may be stored at an average price of a shilling a day. Garages offer a similar service, but for some reason the average American prefers to leave his car out of doors.

“An ingenious device that has recently become popular in more than fifty cities is the ‘parking meter.’ Where it is in use the kerb is marked off with white lines into parking spaces each slightly larger than a car. Opposite every space is a pedestal about four feet high with a coin slot, a clock, and a metal flag. When a car is parked the owner puts a coin into the slot and starts the clockwork. The flag comes into view, and remains for a specified time. A motorist who overstays his time or parks without putting a coin into the slot is subject to arrest and a fine. The customary charge for parking is 21d, the length of time one hour, and the fine for violation of the rule at least eight shillings. “This device, of course, does not solve the parking problem except by persuading people not to leave their cars in the streets any longer than is necessary. For this purpose, however, it has been magically effective. Cities where congestion was heretofore intolerable now report that it is always possible to find room for a car in every block at any moment of the day. Shopkeepers are greatly pleased,, because their customers are no longer kept away by the parking problem. The municipalities are also pleased, because they find the parking meters a source of amazingly large revenue. Indeed, the companies which manufacture these devices are happy to install them without charge if in return they may have the contents of the coin boxes for the first three months.”