24 Aug 2008: SEQ: Car parking crisis at and around stations, solution?

[ozbob]

Media Release 24 August 2008

SEQ:  Car parking crisis at and around stations, solution?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for urgent action to address the car parking crisis at and around railway and bus stations.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Yesterday I attended a local community meeting at Oxley that was held to try to get some action for the critical problem that local residents and businesses at Oxley are suffering as commuters park in streets around the station."

"The car parking problem is not confined to Oxley, it is a major issue throughout most Brisbane suburbs."

"RAIL Back On Track has previously highlighted the problems but we have also suggested solutions (1)."

"Immediate relief for residents is required; however yellow lines and restricted parking in the streets near stations will only push the parking overload further out from the stations unless a long term sustainable solution is put in place."

"A solution is to introduce local 'station' buses that provide convenient public transport from suburban residences to key stations.  These station buses would be separate from the normal bus services, although some integration and variation of the normal routes would be possible if station buses were introduced."

"On Monday to Friday  5am to 10am, and 3pm to 8pm daily we call for local neighbourhood buses to be introduced to provide transport for commuters to and from their residences to stations.  These buses could be painted a bright TransLink orange and become part of the local neighbourhood facilities and culture.  Routes could be chosen such that residents only have short walks to stops to catch the station bus."

"By having these dedicated station buses the pressure would be off the present parking facilities, and those commuters who need to travel outside the peak times would be able to park without the present problems."

"An extensive community education campaign would also be needed, and consideration of the introduction of parking fees at car parks at stations at peak times. These fees could offset the cost of the buses.  The station buses would be part of the normal TransLink ticketing.  This would encourage people to catch the station bus rather than drive and overload the streets."

"It is time we moved forward with solutions, other than just knocking down houses and building more and more car parks, which in turn just acts as further encouragement for masses to drive."

References:

1.  RAIL Back On Track Media Release 21 June 2008
SEQ:  Car parking, congestion, chaos and calamity.  A solution! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1056.0


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[QRIG]

Suffering the same situation in the Centenary suburbs at the moment, good luck if you want to bus it to Darra between Peak Hours, the 452 is the only bus that services the station during the week. The only alternative is to jump on the 454 to Indooroopilly/Taringa and jump on a train from there. Big pain in the butt, when trying to leave the car at home for Friday drinks.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23 June 2011

Car parking, there are solutions ...

Greetings,

Reported in the Courier Mail this morning are moves to charge for car parking at Chermside ( http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/westfield-chermside-to-introduce-paid-parking-after-three-hour-limit-for-free-parking/story-e6freoof-1226080211564 ) in an attempt to displace the commuters who are occupying the car parks.  In the absence of any meaningful solutions to the car parking crisis this will just displace more cars onto the streets, further making life for residents hell.

Policy with respect to parking generally is seriously flawed of course.  The fixation on expensive park n' ride solutions virtually to the exclusion of sustainable solutions is now compounding the crisis.  Residents and businesses are constantly being parked out, streets are congested, people cannot conveniently access places of trade and so forth.  The roads generally are becoming a quagmire of congestion, rage and despair.

For a number of years we have been suggesting solutions (see below).

As the problem worsens by the day, the failure to change the paradigm is a further testament to the failed transport policies in south-east Queensland generally.

Enjoy the parking rage ...

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

===========================

Media Release 26 March 2009 re-released 23 June 2011

SEQ:  Car parking crisis at and around stations worsens, community rage - solution?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has again called for urgent action to address the car parking crisis at and around railway and bus stations.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The car parking problem is a major issue throughout most Brisbane suburbs."

"The solutions to this crisis touted during the recent election by the ALP and the LNP are doomed to failure. Some increase in parking space is needed, but it is not working now nor will it the future unless sustainable solutions are put in place urgently.

"RAIL Back On Track has previously highlighted the problems but we have also suggested solutions." (1,2,3)

"Immediate relief for residents and businesses is required; however yellow lines and restricted parking in the streets near stations will only push the parking overload further out from the stations unless  long term sustainable solutions are put in place."

"Part of the solution is to introduce local 'station' buses that provide convenient public transport from suburban residences to key stations.  These station buses would be separate from the normal bus services, although some integration and variation of the normal routes would be possible if station buses were introduced. The Brisbane City Loop buses are a good model for the station bus concept."

"On Monday to Friday 5am to 10am, and 3pm to 8pm daily we call for local neighbourhood buses to be introduced to provide transport for commuters to and from their residences to stations.  These buses could be painted a bright TransLink orange and become part of the local neighbourhood facilities and culture (3).  Routes could be chosen such that residents only have short walks to stops to catch the station bus."

"By having these dedicated station buses the pressure would be off the present parking facilities, and those commuters who need to travel outside the peak times would be able to park without the present problems."

"An extensive community education campaign would also be needed including promotion of active transport, and consideration of the introduction of parking fees at car parks at stations at peak times. These fees could offset the cost of the buses.  The station buses would be part of the normal TransLink ticketing.  This would encourage people to catch the station bus or use active transport rather than drive and overload the streets."

"Improve bicycle storage facilities at stations."

"It is time we moved forward with solutions, other than just knocking down houses and building more and more car parks, which in turn just acts as further encouragement for masses to drive."




Mythical Station Bus

References:

1.  RAIL Back On Track Media Release 21 June 2008
SEQ:  Car parking, congestion, chaos and calamity.
A solution! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1056.0

2.  RAIL Back On Track Media Release 24 August 2008
SEQ: Car parking crisis at and around stations - solution?
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1262.0

3.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.msg4651#msg4651

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

===========================

Media release 12 May 2011 re-released 23 June 2011

SEQ:  Car parking chaos compounded by Brisbane City Council

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers suggests Brisbane City Council needs to urgently review the flawed car parking policy as evidenced by the recent amendments to the Transport, Access, Parking and Servicing Planning Scheme Policy. Car parking is a major issue not only in Brisbane itself but in most areas of south-east Queensland.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The amendments go against the direction that the council has been striving for over the last few years: a sustainable city for the people of Brisbane."

"The flawed amendments will only serve to increase the traffic congestion in the inner city precinct, making cycling, public transport and general pedestrian transport improvements more difficult."

"Those in the inner city area have some of the best public transport in Brisbane. They should not need so many cars, especially in an office building. We should be encouraging people to ride, walk or take public transport, not making it easier for them to clog our streets and degrade our quality of life by sitting on their own in an enclosed cell, complaining about traffic."

"The Federal Government has put in place an initiative 'OUR CITIES, OUR FUTURE - A NATIONAL URBAN POLICY FOR A PRODUCTIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND LIVEABLE FUTURE (1)'.  This should be compulsory reading for all of Brisbane City Council."

"Car parking is a major issue not only in Brisbane itself but in most areas of south-east Queensland.  There are solutions (2), simply encouraging more of the same and expecting improvements is as Einstein would have put it, insanity!"

"Wrong decisions now will take city planners many years and many millions of dollars to rectify in the future. Please make Brisbane a sustainable city. Make it a city for people, not cars."

References:

1. http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/commonwealth-budget/2011-12/2011-12/content/download/ms_urban.pdf

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.msg60988#msg60988

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

24 June 2011

It's not us, it's them ...  Re: Car parking, there are solutions ...

Greetings,

The calls by BCC and the State Government for Westfield not to introduce paid parking at Chermside completely miss the point.  How about fixing up our public transport system?

The BCC can roll out parking metres everywhere, but grandstands when a business reacts to a failing transport paradigm,  all a bit hypocritical in my opinion.

The reality is many shopping centres do have parking fees for excessive use of the space already.  A long term sustainable solution is needed as we have outlined.

Enjoy your commute!

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

On 23/06/2011 2:51 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:

Greetings,

Reported in the Courier Mail this morning are moves to charge for car parking at Chermside ( http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/westfield-chermside-to-introduce-paid-parking-after-three-hour-limit-for-free-parking/story-e6freoof-1226080211564 ) in an attempt to displace the commuters who are occupying the car parks.  In the absence of any meaningful solutions to the car parking crisis this will just displace more cars onto the streets, further making life for residents hell.

Policy with respect to parking generally is seriously flawed of course.  The fixation on expensive park n' ride solutions virtually to the exclusion of sustainable solutions is now compounding the crisis.  Residents and businesses are constantly being parked out, streets are congested, people cannot conveniently access places of trade and so forth.  The roads generally are becoming a quagmire of congestion, rage and despair.

For a number of years we have been suggesting solutions (see below).

As the problem worsens by the day, the failure to change the paradigm is a further testament to the failed transport policies in south-east Queensland generally.

Enjoy the parking rage ...

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

===========================

Media Release 26 March 2009 re-released 23 June 2011

SEQ:  Car parking crisis at and around stations worsens, community rage - solution?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has again called for urgent action to address the car parking crisis at and around railway and bus stations.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The car parking problem is a major issue throughout most Brisbane suburbs."

"The solutions to this crisis touted during the recent election by the ALP and the LNP are doomed to failure. Some increase in parking space is needed, but it is not working now nor will it the future unless sustainable solutions are put in place urgently.

"RAIL Back On Track has previously highlighted the problems but we have also suggested solutions." (1,2,3)

"Immediate relief for residents and businesses is required; however yellow lines and restricted parking in the streets near stations will only push the parking overload further out from the stations unless  long term sustainable solutions are put in place."

"Part of the solution is to introduce local 'station' buses that provide convenient public transport from suburban residences to key stations.  These station buses would be separate from the normal bus services, although some integration and variation of the normal routes would be possible if station buses were introduced. The Brisbane City Loop buses are a good model for the station bus concept."

"On Monday to Friday 5am to 10am, and 3pm to 8pm daily we call for local neighbourhood buses to be introduced to provide transport for commuters to and from their residences to stations.  These buses could be painted a bright TransLink orange and become part of the local neighbourhood facilities and culture (3).  Routes could be chosen such that residents only have short walks to stops to catch the station bus."

"By having these dedicated station buses the pressure would be off the present parking facilities, and those commuters who need to travel outside the peak times would be able to park without the present problems."

"An extensive community education campaign would also be needed including promotion of active transport, and consideration of the introduction of parking fees at car parks at stations at peak times. These fees could offset the cost of the buses.  The station buses would be part of the normal TransLink ticketing.  This would encourage people to catch the station bus or use active transport rather than drive and overload the streets."

"Improve bicycle storage facilities at stations."

"It is time we moved forward with solutions, other than just knocking down houses and building more and more car parks, which in turn just acts as further encouragement for masses to drive."




Mythical Station Bus

References:

1.  RAIL Back On Track Media Release 21 June 2008
SEQ:  Car parking, congestion, chaos and calamity.
A solution! http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1056.0

2.  RAIL Back On Track Media Release 24 August 2008
SEQ: Car parking crisis at and around stations - solution?
http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1262.0

3.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.msg4651#msg4651

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


===========================

Media release 12 May 2011 re-released 23 June 2011

SEQ:  Car parking chaos compounded by Brisbane City Council

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers suggests Brisbane City Council needs to urgently review the flawed car parking policy as evidenced by the recent amendments to the Transport, Access, Parking and Servicing Planning Scheme Policy. Car parking is a major issue not only in Brisbane itself but in most areas of south-east Queensland.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The amendments go against the direction that the council has been striving for over the last few years: a sustainable city for the people of Brisbane."

"The flawed amendments will only serve to increase the traffic congestion in the inner city precinct, making cycling, public transport and general pedestrian transport improvements more difficult."

"Those in the inner city area have some of the best public transport in Brisbane. They should not need so many cars, especially in an office building. We should be encouraging people to ride, walk or take public transport, not making it easier for them to clog our streets and degrade our quality of life by sitting on their own in an enclosed cell, complaining about traffic."

"The Federal Government has put in place an initiative 'OUR CITIES, OUR FUTURE - A NATIONAL URBAN POLICY FOR A PRODUCTIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND LIVEABLE FUTURE (1)'.  This should be compulsory reading for all of Brisbane City Council."

"Car parking is a major issue not only in Brisbane itself but in most areas of south-east Queensland.  There are solutions (2), simply encouraging more of the same and expecting improvements is as Einstein would have put it, insanity!"

"Wrong decisions now will take city planners many years and many millions of dollars to rectify in the future. Please make Brisbane a sustainable city. Make it a city for people, not cars."

References:

1. http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/commonwealth-budget/2011-12/2011-12/content/download/ms_urban.pdf

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

25 June 2011

Car parking crisis

Greetings,

Amusing if not sad the hysterical reaction to Chermside Shopping Centre moves to charge for parking.  The reaction by the BCC, the State Government, the Opposition, and many citizens just confirms the basket case that is parking policy, and public transport policy generally.

Park n' ride is only at best a part solution.  The more expensive park n' rides are built, the quicker they fill with the consequent overflow issues for all and the worse it all becomes.

This media release was first released three years ago.  Has anything really improved?   No it is hasn't ... despite millions of dollars spent on park n' rides ...

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

===================================================

Media Release 21 June 2008 re-released 25 June 2011

SEQ:  Car parking, congestion, chaos and calamity.  A solution!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has called for dedicated buses to be introduced in the suburbs as feeder services to transport commuters from places near their homes;  to and from key bus and rail stations.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track has highlighted the ongoing parking problems at railway stations for some time (1).

"As more people are forced onto public transport to save fuel costs, parking pressures around stations (rail and bus) will only increase.  Rather than driving all the way commuters will park and ride."

"It is not possible or sensible to keep building more and more car parks. Eventually we will just have stations surrounded by hectares of car parks."

"Car parking is causing much disruption for local residents near stations. It is causing problems with local businesses as car parks are often taken up by commuters."

"The overload parking on streets is restricting the access of motorists and causing chaos as people attempt to drive around their suburbs."

"Rail and bus stations need bus interchange facilities. For example with the upgrade of Indooroopilly station it would have been logical to have incorporated a bus/rail interchange as part of the upgrade.  A lost opportunity."

"Monday to Friday, from 6am to 10am, and 3pm to 7pm daily we call for local neighbourhood buses to be introduced to provide transport for commuters to and from their residences to stations.  These buses could be painted a bright TransLink orange and become part of the local neighbourhood facilities and culture.  Routes could be chosen such that residents only have short walks to stops to catch the Station bus."

"By having these dedicated Station buses the pressure would be off the present parking facilities, and those commuters who need to travel outside the peak times would be able to park without the present problems."

"The parking issue is raised constantly in the media, and feedback is constantly received by us as to the problems.  Nothing substantial is ever done except more of the same; the knee-jerk response of knocking down houses and building more car parks is silly. This is a non solution for the long term. Station buses are solution that is sustainable and sensible."

"Let's do it!"

Reference:

1.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org