Wellington Parking - They are about to clamp down on bike parking

[rwh]

... the project to open Manners Mall to buses.

About that. The map I saw in the paper (admittedly a few months ago) seemed to suggest that the large Mercer St bike park was to be repurposed. Is that correct? Is there a planned replacement?

Thanks,

Richard

[rwh]

Jon,
I'm not too familier with Boulcott street or the P&D parks to which you refer but that road is pretty much all hill as I recall. Can I ask, if these new spaces are on a hill, will bikes using them (ie angle parked) be leaning onto their stands or away from their stands. Which is to say will the uphill be to the left of the bike, causing the bike to lean off its stand, or the right of the bike allowing the bike to rest more heavily into its stand.

I've noticed that the bike park on Willis st opposite the Willis st Village provide parks on the wrong side of the road for bikes. I personally wouldn't park my bike there because in a windy city like Wellington its way too easy for a bike to be blown off its stand and the domino effect will only make matters worse.

There are many factors ... I've parked there with no problems; I just angle my bike a bit more so that the camber compensates for the hill. I personally have more of a problem with a park on a significant downhill, since it means I have to reverse uphill to get in there in the first place - and with a heavyish bike and short legs, that can be a real struggle. Then there's the risk of the bike rolling forward off the stand (though first gear mostly solves that). And again with the short legs - if my bike is leaning downhill onto the stand, that means I have further to reach when trying to stand it up again.

Richard

[Bodir]

On an uphill road, can motorcycles not park with their front wheel towards the kerb? There are no rules specifying which way a motorcycle or scooter must be oriented within the marked parking area, as long as it is entirely within that area. So our expectation is that riders would park at the angle that is safest for them (taking into consideration the slope & camber of the road and the ability to get in & out). Once the first bike is parked at a certain angle, others usually follow suit. Therefore it is really up to the riders (especially the first to arrive) to "set the trend" and it is within your ability to change that if you want.

Hi Jon, another reason for not parking front to kerb is the potential danger caused by reversing into traffic. When wearing the usual gear it is not so easy to clearly see fast moving road traffic whilst one tries to reverse the bike. Hence the usually safer approach of reversing into the parking spot.

[Jon Visser]

About that. The map I saw in the paper (admittedly a few months ago) seemed to suggest that the large Mercer St bike park was to be repurposed. Is that correct? Is there a planned replacement?

I assume this may have been for the Manners Mall redevelopment (which will remove the buses from Mercer Street). The plans that the architects drew up were "fanciful" and completely impractical. They forgot that this is part of our parade route (Civic Centre to Lambton Quay) so what they had proposed is not something that we will agree to. If there is any proposal to change parking in this area I will stress the importance of shifting (not removing) any such specific parking amenity.

[Jon Visser]

There are many factors ... I've parked there with no problems; I just angle my bike a bit more so that the camber compensates for the hill. I personally have more of a problem with a park on a significant downhill, since it means I have to reverse uphill to get in there in the first place

Maybe for problem locations riders can use chalk to mark with a large arrow how they wish the first rider to park? I am reluctant to paint lines on the road as they would be a slip hazard.

[Swoop]

Any thoughts on how to stop bikes mis-parking in the alloted bays.
I don't mind a slight angle to the kerb if they are worried about wind but I've seen bikes parked at upto 45 degrees to the kerb which is just bloody selfish as it uses up space which two other bikes could use.

I had the same problem at work. A flat area big enough to accomodate 12 bikes under cover.
The scooterists' were the problem since they would arrive and just stop, hop off and walk away.

The solution was making up a template and getting a can of paint. Simple dividing lines are there now and guess what!!? There is always room to park more bikes now! Even 2 scooters can park side by side.

I will soon be making a template of a motorcycle so markings will also be able to be painted on the tarseal.

[motor_mayhem]

Maybe for problem locations riders can use chalk to mark with a large arrow how they wish the first rider to park? I am reluctant to paint lines on the road as they would be a slip hazard.

Lines wouldn't be that bad would they? People hardly blaze into parking spaces (and if they do, they shouldn't be)

[XP@]

Lines wouldn't be that bad would they? People hardly blaze into parking spaces (and if they do, they shouldn't be)

Winter, windy wellington, driving rain, full wet gear, heavy bike, hard ride in...
The last thing you want is to have to negotiate white lines.

They could be thin lines, thinner than normal carpark ones may be able to get away with that. (less than the width of a boot). But they will cost - having them re painted etc, I would not want to ask the council to add another expense requiring much ongoing maintenance unless really necessary.

Could a sign under the "Bike Park" sign, with a diagram showing the preferred parking method? We could then have a printable leaflet which can refer offenders to the nearby parking instructions...

[Drogen Omen]

worst thing i have found about parking buildings is the smooth cement floors which are like ice when wet... no way I'm ever parking in a parking building till they lay down something gritty cause I've had issues in my 4x4 with 4 wheels imagine the damage on 2 wheels... might as well poor oil or diesel all over the parking building....

[Kendog]

worst thing i have found about parking buildings is the smooth cement floors which are like ice when wet... no way I'm ever parking in a parking building till they lay down something gritty cause I've had issues in my 4x4 with 4 wheels imagine the damage on 2 wheels... might as well poor oil or diesel all over the parking building....

I crashed in a parking building on my first bike from this (wet outside, so some water inside)

[Kersten]

Hi all,
embarked on a media campaign to explain how (and where) best to park motorcycles.

Thanks for your comments Jon. I would like to make a couple of points. Firstly, if Council was attempting to make reasonable compromise based on your quote above, and not Retentive Attitudes there would be fewer complaints from Bike and Scooter users.

Lets face it, two-wheelers are cold wet and vulnerable, unless there is a quid-quo-pro in the form of convenience, the cost incentive is just not enough. In addition, two-wheelers improve city function in many ways other than just improving traffic density on the main commute. They speed delivery about the city, allow quick response for tasks such as lift repair, meter reading, courier deliveries, parking wardens, quick trips to buy items and many other tasks requiring movement of one or two people. The more popular they become, the more uses will be found that help City Infrastructure and make the city more user friendly.

At the moment the WCC is just being bureaucrat. for example, in the photo attached to your web article all of the Scooters, except the one with dismounting rider, pose absolutely zero disruption to foot traffic - even that rider may have moved the bike once off it. All are tucked in behind protruding parts of buildings or poles and this should be permissible for short term parking. There are many wide islands on footpaths about the city able to cater for curb side parks with a simple pipe barrier to segregate two or three bikes parallel to the curb for both all day commuters and short term users even when there is a lot of foot traffic. Some areas do not even need a barrier, but could be designated with painted markings for clarity. Little slots exist all over the city that can cater for 1 small scooter at a time, lets use them. It is better to allow users to park in scattered groups close to their destinations than provide large parking areas.

Parking that is considerate and not creating protruding obstacles for prams etc should be allowed as a matter of course. Their are ways to fix those who block traffic. Lets think beyond the bureaucratic square!

[Jon Visser]

As far as I am aware, motorcycles may use Pay and Display spaces after hours when that restriction no longer applies. Conversely, cars may also use motorcycle spaces after hours as long as they are not marked as "at all times" (again, these restrictions do not need to be implicitly stated on the signs, drivers and riders are "assumed" to know all of the road rules).

I have confirmed with our parking contractor that:
"For parking restrictions indicated with a blue & white sign, these restrictions only apply between the hours of 8am and 6pm unless the sign specifies a different time period or 'at all times'. While the law now allows this to be enforced seven days a week, our current response is to only enforce this Monday to Saturday. Outside those hours (and on Sundays at our discretion), unless otherwise stated, anyone may park in those spaces for as long as they like."

This means that at night, unless the sign says "at all times", cars can use motorcycle spaces.

It also means that, between 6pm and 8am the following day, unless the restriction on the sign specifically says otherwise, motorcycles can use car parking spaces like Pay and Display spaces and Loading Zones.

[Badjelly]

...This means that at night, unless the sign says "at all times", cars can use motorcycle spaces.

It also means that, between 6pm and 8am the following day, unless the restriction on the sign specifically says otherwise, motorcycles can use car parking spaces like Pay and Display spaces and Loading Zones.

Yes, but please don't spread it about. I have my own personal loading zone near the end of Courtenay Place to park in after hours and I don't want anyone else muscling in on it.

[Kersten]

I'm the opposite, I always take the scoot for a quick shop. Particularly, if it is just a couple of items the scoot costs nothing to run and is easy to park (under the old rules) so why spend four times the petrol.

[Chocolate Boy]

I have confirmed with our parking contractor that:
"For parking restrictions indicated with a blue & white sign, these restrictions only apply between the hours of 8am and 6pm unless the sign specifies a different time period or 'at all times'. While the law now allows this to be enforced seven days a week, our current response is to only enforce this Monday to Saturday. Outside those hours (and on Sundays at our discretion), unless otherwise stated, anyone may park in those spaces for as long as they like."

So when I'm parked in one of those spaces (with my car or my bike) how do I get to know when the council might, at its discretion, ticket me for being parked illegally?