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Your Parking Behaviour
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Research shows that for town centre parking to work efficiently and effectively and remain attractive to consumers there needs to be at least 15% of car spaces available at any time of the day. This eliminates ‘cruise parking’, it speeds traffic circulation and reduces congestion and consumers know there will be parks available so they don’t avoid the area.
How often and where, do you find yourself in congested traffic due to having to ‘cruise’ for a park?
This online discussion forum has concluded. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will no longer accept new comments or votes.
Comment 1 5 Aug 2010, 1:21 PM
I accept that the CBD suffers from congested parking and that frail aged, young parents etc should have some priority for parking. As I am able bodied I tend to park on the fringe of town and walk in rather than contributing to the congestion.
Comment 1.1 5 Aug 2010, 3:49 PM
I agree with Jaci. When in Port Macquarie I'm happy to park on the fringe and walk if I need more than a short time - it's the times we need to carry heavy or bulky shopping that we need those 1 hour spots in Horton Street and Clarence Street the most - and how often are we lucky enough to find one without 'cruising'?
I don't have any problems parking in Laurieton - people are much more laid back there!
Comment 2 5 Aug 2010, 1:56 PM
The common knowledge, belief is that the council parking rangers tend to not be around during the rain. A lot of people count on this to overstay the designated time limit in places such as Horton street.
The other BIG offenders causing traffic holdups are the double parkers who just loiter as either they themselves dash to queue at an ATM or their passenger does. They have to be cracked down on.
The sooner that long term car parking, more than 2 hours but not all day is made available the sooner the traffic and free flow of spaces will occur.
Perhaps a boom gate type of system can be installed on the short street site that allows people to park for free up to their time limit and then charged $1 per hour over that up to a maximum of $10, then a daily rate would kick in. It would mean fencing in the area but it would provide som certainty. Port central and Settlement City could be the same. If you can't get your shopping done in 3 hours, well ......
Comment 3 6 Aug 2010, 11:46 AM
I feel that there is mostly two types of behaviour to shoppers. First there is the "know what I need and where to get it" types that typically may take less than 30 minutes. Then there is the more leisurely paced shopper who likes to browse in a couple of different stores, chat to casual passers by and /or to have a snack and a coffee in amongst it all.They may indeed need parking for a few hours.So a good mix of parking options should be available.I do feel that council should be doing more towards providing parking spaces close to shops where people need them. Surely there are solutions other than parking meters or shorter time limits. Maybe a "thinking outside the box" solution would be a great tourism marketing boon making Port and surrounding areas "interesting" and an enjoyable destination!
Comment 4 7 Aug 2010, 11:07 PM
I go to the Post Ofice five days a week and I find that Horton Street and Short Street are the biggest hold ups to traffic looking for parking spots. The nose in parking around the Post Office is remarkable in the fact that there have been very few accidents reported.
As I often say there is no parking problem in the CBD...There are no parking spaces so there cannot be a problem.
Why was the electrical transformer for the Glasshouse allowed to be placed in the centre of the street taking up three car parking spaces and blocking the view of half the pedestrian crossing.
Regards
Comment 5 10 Aug 2010, 8:13 AM
I find the most traffic congestion looking for a park is Horton Street, from the corner of the Ritz cinemas down to the traffic lights, and Calrence Street, from the Glasshouse down to the Wharf. These are the most problematic areas for srusiing for parks and traffic congestion when it comes to parking.
Comment 6 13 Aug 2010, 9:06 AM
Obviously congestion is more noticeable where there is centre parking. Council cannot create new spaces but it can speed things up by hunting out the overstayers. Compliance to Road rules is only as good as the enforcement of those rules. Get the Rangers down to the CBD and get fair dinkum about enforcement. Visibility of enforcement is half the battle so perhaps if the Rangers presented themelves as enforcement officers, instead of looking like someone who just walked off the beach, then the public would realise the Council was addressing the issue.
Comment 7 30 Aug 2010, 11:03 AM
I agree we have a real problem with parking in the CBD, with the lack of all day spots resulting in workers parking in limited time spots. But where else can they park. Try finding an all day spot in the middle of the day!
Unfortunately the Council's previous plans to put in a parking tower station on William St have been stymied by its 'Glasshouse induced' financial position.
We need more FREE all day parking, close to CBD, which will automatically see more limited parking spots freed up.
