Car parking - solutions?

[ozbob]

6.2 million is nothing to people anymore.  They will see 6.2 million and scream "what a bargain".  Tell them it would be cheaper for the government to pay taxi's to drop everyone from the station right to their house.  However, any new station that is built with a large park and ride should be multistory.  Still amazed how springfield central, ferny grove, varsity lakes and many MBRL stations were built without multistory car parks.

The ferny grove line solution of having most customers walk to the station is the best option.

Exactly, improved active transport options as well as proper feeder bus networks.

Multi-story car parks are NOT THE ANSWER.  All that does is encourage even more to drive and further congest the already congested suburbs. 

We have to change the whole paradigm.   Suburbs cannot be converted to car parks.

[Stillwater]

Going back a bit, ACTION buses in Canberra trialled late night from-the-city bus services whereby the driver was able to undertake optional 'loops' off the designated route (by a street or two, and within reason), depending on the destination of the passengers he/she had on board for that particular run.  Some people got delivered to their door!

[ozbob]

Comments for this article were some time ago ...

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

Quest North West News 7th September 2016 pages 1 & 3

RESIDENTS CALL FOR MULTI-LEVEL SOLUTION TO EASE STREET CONGESTION

RESIDENTS are calling for more parking at railway stations on the Ferny Grove line as development and population growth puts pressure on existing facilities.

The recent closure of a privatelyowned block near Enoggera station, used for parking by commuters, has only worsened the problem.

Public transport lobbyist Robert Dow, from Rail Back On Track, said parking at Enoggera station was inadequate even before the Glenalva Tce block was fenced off.

He feared commuters would now compete with residents even more for on-street parking.

But parking difficulties were not limited to Enoggera, with Alderley station also subject to commuters' complaints. The North-West News found three vehicles parked over traffic islands in the Ferny Grove station's park 'n' ride, while about 20 of the spaces were taken up by construction vehicles connected to the station's upgrade works.

Vehicles also occupied the length of neighbouring Hubbart and Denman streets, and the lower sections of Farrington and Hall streets.

Alderley resident Ashley Doyle said locals already found parking tough and called for a multi-level carpark.

He said his side street was blocked "quite a lot" and it was often impossible to find a park in the street until after 5.30pm.

A TransLink spokesman said TransLink would keep monitoring public transport to ensure it met demand.

Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow blamed Brisbane City Council for a system whereby buses tried to compete with the train network, rather than feeding into it.

"Frequent feeder bus services from northern suburbs (e.g. along Old Northern Rd corridor) should feed into either Enoggera or Mitchelton bus interchanges," he said.

However Brisbane City Council public and active transport chair Adrian Schrinner dismissed the rail bus suggestion.

He said some of the city's least-used bus routes were feeder services to rail stations.

"Buses have a much higher frequency than the current rail network and for many commuters trains simply do not service their needs," he said.

[ozbob]

^
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12433.msg179527#msg179527

... The Enoggera Interchange should be a focal point in the review as it is already in place and at the moment is a bit of a white elephant. It was a great idea when it was built, the the lack of Bus / Train frequency let it down in the end plus the roads were not gridlocked in peak to the extent they are now.

Seems to me that now is a good time to reinvent Enoggera Interchange as now we have the frequency with the trains and should introduce high frequency with bus feeders. ...

[tazzer9]

Truncate the 350/352 to enogerra and extend the maroon glider to the enogerra interchange?
Only in the dead of night will the transfer to a train end up being a slower trip to the city.

Not sure what sort of local feeders you could run through that area. 

[#Metro]

However Brisbane City Council public and active transport chair Adrian Schrinner dismissed the rail bus suggestion.

He said some of the city's least-used bus routes were feeder services to rail stations.

"Buses have a much higher frequency than the current rail network and for many commuters trains simply do not service their needs," he said.

It is quite infuriating to read this piece of blatant ignorance, especially now that there are examples on Australian soil that do connect such as Melbourne (Smartbus), Perth (entire rail network) and Gold Coast (LRT).

Not only is it contradicted by other cities, but by BCC's own Lord Mayor's Transit report, written by their own councillors.
Sorry, but this is just mind games (I would use a different word here, but it is rude).

I don't think RBOT should be reversing its position to remove BT from BCC just because BCC does a bus review. The issue is structural - you could replace everyone in the organisation, and still have the same problems crop up.

BCC must get out of the bus business.

[ozbob]

As I indicated above the comments for this article were done some time ago.  I know there has been a shift in thinking from what was reported above.

The Government is not going to remove BT from BCC.  Time to live with it and move on. Paradoxically it is something more likely under a LNP State Government.

We need to let the wheels turn.

[tazzer9]

However Brisbane City Council public and active transport chair Adrian Schrinner dismissed the rail bus suggestion.

He said some of the city's least-used bus routes were feeder services to rail stations.

"Buses have a much higher frequency than the current rail network and for many commuters trains simply do not service their needs," he said.

Is he retarded, I think if he looked properly he might find that brisbane's busiest bus route (66) is purely a feeder/transfer bus. Heavy transfer of people from other buses at RBWH and roma st and extremely heavy transfer between rail at park road and roma st. 

[ozbob]

The other standard throw away line Cr Schrinner used was  words to the effect that ' public transport experts suggest we should run buses to stations but no one will use them ' ...

He knows and we all know that better feeder buses will drive more multi-modal journeys.  He has recently just proposed that in effect.

See > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12433.0

Time marches on. 

[#Metro]

Is he retarded, I think if he looked properly he might find that brisbane's busiest bus route (66) is purely a feeder/transfer bus. Heavy transfer of people from other buses at RBWH and roma st and extremely heavy transfer between rail at park road and roma st.

Yes, and a bus route merger created by RBOT suggestion. It is the busiest bus route, carrying even more pax than 199 or the Blue CityGlider.

When it was first suggested, there was some skepticism around whether the 109 + 66 timetables would match into each other.

The Government is not going to remove BT from BCC.  Time to live with it and move on.

Although this government has runs on the board (GC LRT, Fares and Ticketing) it is not going to be in office for very much longer IMHO. Bus reform needs to get moving ASAP before a new election comes along and we find ourselves with Mr Emerson as Transport minister again. 

[James]

Although this government has runs on the board (GC LRT, Fares and Ticketing) it is not going to be in office for very much longer IMHO. Bus reform needs to get moving ASAP before a new election comes along and we find ourselves with Mr Emerson as Transport minister again. 

Emerson is now the Shadow Treasurer, zero chance of him coming back as Transport Minister. Speaking of Shadow Ministers, Andrew Powell (Shadow Transport Minister) has been very quiet...

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

10th September 2016

Parking & Transit Land Management Strategy

Greetings,

Brisbane City Council has requested a Park and Ride strategy be created.
We support this call as part of a larger SEQ Parking and Transit Land Management Strategy to better manage land use around stations and major stops.

Such a strategy would look at all stations on the network and take stock of what formal parking capacity already exists, and how well it is utilised. It should also look at informal parking, that is parking on adjacent public or private land within the vicinity of a station. This also includes on-road parking in streets near a station. We also include bicycle parking within our definition of 'parking', as not all parked vehicles are cars.

RAIL Back on Track generally supports Transit Oriented Development as the priority land use around stations within urban and suburban areas. For low-density outer suburban and rural areas, we have supported Park and Ride as the priority land use around stations or major stops.

Contrary to what some may think, Park and Ride is not a cheap option and is not cost-effective at filling buses, trains, ferries, or trams. Based on a cost of $40,000 per parking space, we provide the following estimates for filling various transport vehicles:

Fill one bus using P&R = $2,600,000
Fill one CityCat using P&R = $6,480,000
Fill one G-Link Tram using P&R = $12,000,000
Fill one QR Train (1000 pax) using P&R = $40,000,000

These massive costs are why we support Park and Ride in some locations, while not in others.

A Park and Ride Strategy should also give funding contribution guidelines as to who should pay and in what proportion. There may be a role for local government contributions as it is local residents who benefit. Those benefits spill over into property value increases, and in turn are captured as increased rates revenue by local government. This happens simply because local government rates are based on land values.

We suggest a 'life cycle' perspective for land management around stations. The strategy should set out general circumstances where it is appropriate and inappropriate to locate a Park and Ride, how it should be managed once built (i.e. parking fees, ownership, management, patrols), and the circumstances or conditions when Park and Ride should be shut down and replaced with Transit Oriented Development.

RAIL Back on Track supports the introduction of parking fees where utilisation of parking capacity reaches 80% or more. Land is not free - it costs money to buy and has a 'lost opportunity' cost. Lost residential rates revenue and lost benefit from home buyers not being able to buy transit-oriented property all contribute to this 'lost opportunity' cost.

Transit Oriented Development and Park and Ride are different representations of the same thing - people's desire for easily accessible public transport. In Park and Ride people take their car to their local train or busway station. In Transit Oriented Development people take their house or apartment to their local train or busway station.

Brisbane City Council, and indeed all local councils should seriously consider the creation of a new 'Transit-Oriented' Zoning. This should automatically apply within 800m of all train or busway stations, permitting greater building heights and density around a station. Heights and densities could be progressively tapered to adapt to the surrounding land use within the zone the further the distance from the station platforms.

Overflowing station car parks, informal, and sometimes illegal car parking are signs that this problem has been left to fester for too long. As part of a larger push for bus reform, can we please now address this issue?

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

An Example Park and Ride Strategy
http://www.tactran.gov.uk/documents/1ParkandRideStrategyFinal.pdf

TransPerth network-wide $2 all day parking charge http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/parking
"From 1 July 2014, paid parking was extended to include all parking bays* (including motorbike shelters and u-rails) at Transperth train stations. This means when you park at a Transperth train station it'll cost you $2 a day, or for any part of it when you're parked there.
*Accessible bays are exempt from the $2 charge. There are two ways to pay for parking, SmartParker and Pay 'n' Display."

Council launches 10 point public transport plan
http://www.grahamquirk.com.au/council-launches-10-point-public-transport-plan/

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' Parking & Transit Land Management Strategy '
> https://t.co/i9z7TWzEd1#qldpol@TMRQld @Team_Quirk pic.twitter.com/eHYbdH23Q8

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 10, 2016

[ozbob]

^ Gailes  - officially nil parking spaces !  Overflow verge parking ..

[ozbob]

@Robert_Dow some interesting points there. Well done for helping to put this on the agenda.

— Cr Adrian Schrinner (@Schrinner) September 10, 2016

[petey3801]

^ Gailes  - officially nil parking spaces !  Overflow verge parking ..

I believe it has about 6 or so 'official' parking spaces (sealed, marked,just in front of the enterance). Still, not much!

[ozbob]

^  according to Queensland Rail zero car parking bays

" Car park (0 bays) "
http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/stationsmaps/stationfinder

The TransLink google map is showing park and ride of 77 at Gailes ( )
http://translink.com.au/travel-with-us/parking

I think this just highlights the confusion with parking and park and ride all over. 

Hence the need to audit it properly.  Real, imagined and overflow .. lol

[tazzer9]

It probably has no official parking bays because they do not meet the standard required to be considered a park n ride.  (eg no camera's, inadequate lighting)

[ozbob]

The thing that fascinates me is where TransLink plucked 77 from?
The verges at Gailes can and do provide parking for hundreds at times.

Maybe they went out there and did a count and on the day they counted 77 cars.

Wacol has a lot of overflow verge parking as well.

[ozbob]

Parking & Transit Land Management Strategy
> https://t.co/i9z7TWzEd1#qldpol
We need a major paradigm shift ... pic.twitter.com/3pUVZSKQuR

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 10, 2016

[petey3801]

The thing that fascinates me is where TransLink plucked 77 from?
The verges at Gailes can and do provide parking for hundreds at times.

Maybe they went out there and did a count and on the day they counted 77 cars.

Wacol has a lot of overflow verge parking as well.

That certainly is quite an interesting difference!

[ozbob]

Crazy, TransLink have an estimate for Gailes ' 77 ' for verge parking  which is largely nonsense, and they have Wacol at 262 which is the official park and ride capacity and ignore the verge parking there!

Yo!   

[ozbob]

And another ... 

Quest --> Calls for an expansion of the Nudgee Rail Station Park 'n Ride'

Pressure is mounting on the state government to fast track an expansion of the Park 'n Ride facility at Nudgee Rail Station.

Both state Labor MP for Nudgee Leanne Linard and LNP councillor Adam Allan (Northgate) have backed calls by Nudgee resident Allan Taylor to increase the size of the site, which presently accommodates only 20 cars.

Around 40-60 vehicles vie for parking in the Nudgee facility every day, with many commuters resorting to parking illegally on the grass outside the station.

Mr Taylor, who lives on Railway St, said he did not appreciate returning from a short drive to the post office to find himself "parked out".

"I don't blame the commuters as they have to park somewhere," he said. "It's just indicative of the bigger problem."

He also raised concerns that parking in the area would only become more difficult for residents and commuters alike, with a new $100 million masterplanned community, Summerlin, set to be developed just a few streets away.

It is expected to house about 500 residents on completion.

Cr Allan said there was clearly "insufficient" parking at the station for commuters and it needed to change.

"We increasingly find that parking at train stations does not match the number of commuters wishing to park, which is very concerning," he said.

Ms Linard said she had received a number of emails about the issue and believed there was ample space at the station to extend the existing carpark.

She said she had raised the issue with Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe on a number of occasions and would continue to do so.

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman said any future upgrades would have to be considered against other Park 'n Ride priorities but the department would continue to monitor travel use at the station.

[#Metro]

It is all a bit bizzare really.
Why are there so many cars? Most places are within 800 m of the station.

Note the implied value judgement.

Parking in short supply. Implication is build more.

Problem could equaly be framed as "too many cars driving to stations". or "feeder bus networks are rubbish".

Nope. Problem is offered as silly gov't didn't make 'enough' space for your private car.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Why are there so many cars?

Nudgee is one of those old local suburbs that has no infrastructure for all these new housing estates as they are coming from what used to be farm land. No feeder buses. No footpaths. Limited/no street lighting. Banyo too congested.

[Old Northern Road]

The furtherest houses are only about 1.2km away from the station

[ozbob]

Parents are delaying their children's treatment because they can't afford parking at Brisbane hospitals #7News https://t.co/R2dlngkwYK

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) September 18, 2016

[#Metro]

Toowong Carparking http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southwest/toowong-commuters-stopping-residents-from-parking-outside-their-own-homes/news-story/449389c5215f5ceadde323ac949b512c

I actually think we can get more creative here. Transferable parking permits might be a way to solve this.

I don't think parking in a street is in itself a bad thing - it's a street. The car is stationary. Most people who are at work are not at home
during the day.

[urbanplanr]

Toowong Carparking http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southwest/toowong-commuters-stopping-residents-from-parking-outside-their-own-homes/news-story/449389c5215f5ceadde323ac949b512c

I actually think we can get more creative here. Transferable parking permits might be a way to solve this.

I don't think parking in a street is in itself a bad thing - it's a street. The car is stationary. Most people who are at work are not at home
during the day.

I thought Toowong already had a commuter car park? I haven't been around that part in awhile but last I saw it was there. Not sure why they need a commuter car park given its close proximity to the CBD. If anything they need to provide more commuter car parking further out west, further than Indro because many commuters are also using UQ's all day parking due to Indro shopping centre being restricted with paid parking.

[tazzer9]

Toowong has a decent sized commuter carpark.  It is separate to the carpark for the shopping centre.
People in toowong just need to harden up. Maybe introduce a 2 hour parking area with resident permits given out. 

[ozbob]

And the tales of woe continue ..   

Couriermail Quest --> Shopping centre introduces $66 fine for shoppers who park longer than four hours

SHOPPERS on Brisbane's southside could cop a fine of $66 if they park for more than four hours at one of area's largest retail centres.

And, in many cases, they will not know they have been pinged until the fine notification arrives in the mail.

Danielle Hutchison of Yarrabilba, who regularly shops at Grand Plaza Shopping Centre in Browns Plains, said "how damn rude".

"That's a bit sneaky," she said.

Another regular, Michelle Lambs of Park Ridge, said she would stop shopping at Grand Plaza with the new fining system.

"Sometimes, when I come with a friend, I stay all day," she said.

The new system was introduced on September 1 to monitor parking at the centre, which has had issues with TransLink bus commuters using the car park all day.

But many shoppers approached by the Albert & Logan News this week were unaware of the new limits and fines, despite standing only metres from newly-erected signage declaring "4 hours free parking per day".

Marlene and Bob Hartley of Hillcrest, who both have a disability, said they were definitely not happy with the prospect of fines as it took them a long time to get their shopping done.

Mr Hartley said he understood the centre not wanting its car park used for free by commuters, but the timing was wrong with the opening of a new expanded centre at Park Ridge.

"I guess we'll emigrate to Park Ridge," he said.

The new system involves "Licence Plate Recognition System" where a car mounted with a camera scans and records license plates between 8am and 5pm. At the end of the allowed parking period, the vehicle returns and rescans the carpark. Any cars exceeding the allowed time limit are issued with a breach notice.

In a written statement, Grand Plaza spokesman Daniel Sutton said he was confident about the long-term benefits for patrons as a result of parking changes at the centre.

"Grand Plaza received a number of customer complaints regarding the lack of available parking," he said.

"To better understand the problem, we worked with external consultants to identify how our visitors were using the 2500 spaces provided in the centre's parking facilities and found that the majority of visitors were parking for less than two hours.

"With this evidence to guide our decision, we adapted our car park allowance to provide our customers free parking for four hours."

Mr Sutton said the parking operator, Secure Parking, would receive the income generated from the breach notices and not Grand Plaza.

Any patron breached during the month of September will only receive a warning, but once the warning period has finished, fines will be issued. If a fine is paid within 14 days, it will be reduced from $66 to $49.50.

Across the Pacific Motorway on Logan's eastern side in Loganholme, management at the Hyperdome Shopping Centre said they had no plans to introduce any parking fines or fees for their customers.

Centre manager Rob Mansfield said the Hyperdome had ample carparks for customers and there were currently no plans to introduce charges for parking.

"The Hyperdome has more than 4000 car parks and this provides plenty of convenient parking

spaces for customers," Mr Mansfield said.

"TransLink also offers a further 150 spaces on site via a FREE park and ride service for commuters."

[red dragin]

Westfield North Lakes is currently being modified for boom gates etc

[tazzer9]

And the tales of woe continue ..   

Couriermail Quest --> Shopping centre introduces $66 fine for shoppers who park longer than four hours

SHOPPERS on Brisbane's southside could cop a fine of $66 if they park for more than four hours at one of area's largest retail centres.

And, in many cases, they will not know they have been pinged until the fine notification arrives in the mail.

Danielle Hutchison of Yarrabilba, who regularly shops at Grand Plaza Shopping Centre in Browns Plains, said "how damn rude".

"That's a bit sneaky," she said.

Another regular, Michelle Lambs of Park Ridge, said she would stop shopping at Grand Plaza with the new fining system.

"Sometimes, when I come with a friend, I stay all day," she said.

The new system was introduced on September 1 to monitor parking at the centre, which has had issues with TransLink bus commuters using the car park all day.

But many shoppers approached by the Albert & Logan News this week were unaware of the new limits and fines, despite standing only metres from newly-erected signage declaring "4 hours free parking per day".

Marlene and Bob Hartley of Hillcrest, who both have a disability, said they were definitely not happy with the prospect of fines as it took them a long time to get their shopping done.

Mr Hartley said he understood the centre not wanting its car park used for free by commuters, but the timing was wrong with the opening of a new expanded centre at Park Ridge.

"I guess we'll emigrate to Park Ridge," he said.

The new system involves "Licence Plate Recognition System" where a car mounted with a camera scans and records license plates between 8am and 5pm. At the end of the allowed parking period, the vehicle returns and rescans the carpark. Any cars exceeding the allowed time limit are issued with a breach notice.

In a written statement, Grand Plaza spokesman Daniel Sutton said he was confident about the long-term benefits for patrons as a result of parking changes at the centre.

"Grand Plaza received a number of customer complaints regarding the lack of available parking," he said.

"To better understand the problem, we worked with external consultants to identify how our visitors were using the 2500 spaces provided in the centre's parking facilities and found that the majority of visitors were parking for less than two hours.

"With this evidence to guide our decision, we adapted our car park allowance to provide our customers free parking for four hours."

Mr Sutton said the parking operator, Secure Parking, would receive the income generated from the breach notices and not Grand Plaza.

Any patron breached during the month of September will only receive a warning, but once the warning period has finished, fines will be issued. If a fine is paid within 14 days, it will be reduced from $66 to $49.50.

Across the Pacific Motorway on Logan's eastern side in Loganholme, management at the Hyperdome Shopping Centre said they had no plans to introduce any parking fines or fees for their customers.

Centre manager Rob Mansfield said the Hyperdome had ample carparks for customers and there were currently no plans to introduce charges for parking.

"The Hyperdome has more than 4000 car parks and this provides plenty of convenient parking

spaces for customers," Mr Mansfield said.

"TransLink also offers a further 150 spaces on site via a FREE park and ride service for commuters."

The only people this would affect are those who use the cinemas and staff.  Don't get why people would be angry about this.

[#Metro]

I thought Toowong already had a commuter car park? I haven't been around that part in awhile but last I saw it was there. Not sure why they need a commuter car park given its close proximity to the CBD. If anything they need to provide more commuter car parking further out west, further than Indro because many commuters are also using UQ's all day parking due to Indro shopping centre being restricted with paid parking.

I think there is an element of NIMBY / Territorialism here.

Here is a curious thing about the article - Catherine Bugler says that she is unhappy about the cars that are in the street etc.

But the street obviously has the space for cars, and the cars are parked. Parked cars are not a danger.
Visually not attractive, but otherwise harmless. When was the last time a parked car killed someone or hit someone?
If someone is blocking a driveway, sure, fine the violator, but most (all?) cars parked aren't doing violations, and are parked legally.

The article then goes on to say

Under the plan, only residents with permits and their friends would be allowed to park in the designated streets.

So this isn't about safety at all - she has no issue if the entire street is parked out with cars if the street is parked out with the cars of her and her friends.

The central theme here is thus possession/control of territory, not safety. It is about the privatisation of a PUBLIC space.

"None of these cars are residents. When you see the street on the weekend or in the evening, there's seven or eight cars parked here."

But this is a direct contradiction of an earlier paragraph which states:

"Since the booming development in the last couple of years, it's meant that commuters park in our streets and all the streets closest to Toowong Village from about 6am to 6pm every single weekday," she said.

Because much of that development is local.

I don't think putting a 2-hour parking limit will do much good. It will just irritate motorists and shift the problem elsewhere. There is a perfectly good space on the street, plus someone willing to pay (presumably) so that is a loss of public benefit.

Limiting the parking to a quota isn't going to help much either. It would just leave spaces empty plus others unable to find a park place.

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/ZmCL12MzSt72 MacDonnell Street
https://goo.gl/maps/JvE5W4c8Lz62 Curlew Street

It doesn't look so bad from inside Google Maps. Yes, it's a street and there are cars parked on it.  :conf

One could ban parking along one side of the street as it is a bit narrow. That would be fair enough. I think though that expirable parking permits should be auctioned off and be permitted to transfer between people. That would do a lot to fix the problems.

I cannot understand why someone living that close to BUZ services and Toowong train station would need a car, or their friends also. That does not make sense to me. Something doesn't quite add up with this story.

[#Metro]

Perth Car Parking

[James]

I think there is an element of NIMBY / Territorialism here.

Here is a curious thing about the article - Catherine Bugler says that she is unhappy about the cars that are in the street etc.

But the street obviously has the space for cars, and the cars are parked. Parked cars are not a danger.
Visually not attractive, but otherwise harmless. When was the last time a parked car killed someone or hit someone?
If someone is blocking a driveway, sure, fine the violator, but most (all?) cars parked aren't doing violations, and are parked legally.

<snip>

One could ban parking along one side of the street as it is a bit narrow. That would be fair enough. I think though that expirable parking permits should be auctioned off and be permitted to transfer between people. That would do a lot to fix the problems.

I cannot understand why someone living that close to BUZ services and Toowong train station would need a car, or their friends also. That does not make sense to me. Something doesn't quite add up with this story.

Firstly, people need a car because there is more to the world than Indro, UQ and the CBD.

Let's say Catherine works in Bardon. How does Catherine get to Bardon? Well, she could catch the GCL, which runs every half-hour and takes 20 minutes to get to her destination, OR she can just drive and do the trip in half the time with zero waiting time. Her car also doesn't stop running after 6pm at night and also runs on Sundays.

This is a problem in the entire area around UQ. In the last few years, the 2P zone was extended as far back as Ryans Rd/Ironside. All this has done is move the problem to streets like Lamont St and the other streets around Gailey Fiveways. Paid parking at Indro has just moved the traffic to the streets around Indro. The fundamental reason behind this issue is (yet again) bus network reform. With bus network reform, it will be easier to move around the bus network, meaning people living in say, Ashgrove, will find it competitive to use bus to get around rather than park 'n' riding near UQ.

I thought Toowong already had a commuter car park? I haven't been around that part in awhile but last I saw it was there. Not sure why they need a commuter car park given its close proximity to the CBD. If anything they need to provide more commuter car parking further out west, further than Indro because many commuters are also using UQ's all day parking due to Indro shopping centre being restricted with paid parking.

The commuter car park isn't that big and annoying to access - particularly if using the bus over train (yes, there are reasons you might do that).

I've actually parked in MacDonnell St numerous times, even though I only live 2km away, for a variety of reasons. Why spend 20 minutes walking when you can spend 3 minutes driving? (I figure after two years of using BT services I got enough exercise... lol). Personally, I'd like to see 2P expanded around Toowong station and residents given permits, like what has occurred in Auchenflower and around Toowong.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> The Gap Village shopping centre irking shoppers with parking fines

A SHOPPER at The Gap was wrongly slugged with a $66 parking fine after she visited her local shopping centre twice in one day.

Cindy Horswill said she spent about 90 minutes shopping at The Gap Village one morning before she left and returned for a half-hour hairdresser's appointment in the afternoon — then she was hit with the fine.

"I didn't even see the ticket on my windscreen until my husband said 'what's this?'" she said.

"It said I had overstayed the limit and had breached the four hour parking limit but in actual fact I hadn't."

Mrs Horswill said she had been shopping at The Gap Village for nearly 30 years and was unaware anyone had been fined in the carpark, until she took to Facebook to warn others. ...

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> Lots to lose: how cities around the world are eliminating car parks

[tazzer9]

Couriermail Quest --> The Gap Village shopping centre irking shoppers with parking fines

A SHOPPER at The Gap was wrongly slugged with a $66 parking fine after she visited her local shopping centre twice in one day.

Cindy Horswill said she spent about 90 minutes shopping at The Gap Village one morning before she left and returned for a half-hour hairdresser's appointment in the afternoon — then she was hit with the fine.

"I didn't even see the ticket on my windscreen until my husband said 'what's this?'" she said.

"It said I had overstayed the limit and had breached the four hour parking limit but in actual fact I hadn't."

Mrs Horswill said she had been shopping at The Gap Village for nearly 30 years and was unaware anyone had been fined in the carpark, until she took to Facebook to warn others. ...

Its not a real fine.   It's a scam.   It is clearly marked as a 4 hour parking limit anyway.   The Gap Village can't really going out fining people when they receive a fine from the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service every few months for breaking numerous fire fighting regulations in the car park anyway.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Westfield announces plans to introduce paid parking at North Lakes shopping centre as Ikea opens