WCC MC Parking Proposal

**riffer** · 1st March 2006, 21:19

Yeah, I got an email from Mark@WMCC too.

I was going to post the email addy's but got beaten to it. It's just a damn pity my aunt isn't a Councillor any more. She would have sorted them out.

I've sent this:

Dear Councillors

As a motorcyclist I feel very strongly about your plan to charge for motorcycles to park in the city.

If you decide to charge $1 an hour for us to park in the city, it will then become uneconomic for me to bring my motorcycle into town each day. I make the trip from Upper Hutt to Wellington each week day in order to work.

If I have to bring my car (a Honda Odyssey) it will add to morning traffic congestion, as well as take up more space in the city.

I choose to ride a motorcycle to work in an effort to ease traffic congestion, as well as reduce strain on our planet’s resources. I assure you it’s not very pleasant to do this in mid-winter when it’s freezing and pouring with rain.

If you choose to charge me for parking, I might as well bring the car.

And I’ll be warm and dry. And as for increased traffic congestion, and more pollution, well, that’s not really my problem any more is it? Because after all, despite their stated objectives, it appears the City Council really doesn’t care about traffic congestion if there’s a buck to be made.

Please remember all the motorcyclists who make this effort when you vote. There are an awful lot of us. And we have very long memories.

**riffer** · 1st March 2006, 21:22

Just received this:

Thanks Simon

Please excuse what is going to be a standard reply - there is a good grapevine going amongst motorcyclists.

The proposal to charge for motorcycle parking is just one of about a dozen ideas put up by officers as budget options. The motorcycle charge doesn't seem to fit with our transport strategy which is indeed about reducing energy use by promoting alternatives to one person per car type commuting. (good urban form, walking, cycling, public transport, motorcycling etc) As a city we have been pretty successful in that. The % of people commuting by car has been dropping which is great.

If the proposal does survive councillors' debates in the next couple of days (I suspect somewhat unlikely given the level of reaction already) , please remember it remains a proposal and subject to consultation and public submissions, and would not come into effect until some time after the beginning of July, so please do make a submission in that instance. However if it doesn't please still take a look at the rest of the budget (the somewhat long windedly titled 'Long Term Council Community Plan' or LTCCP) because there are a lot of important issues in there for the city - and we will also be consulting on our Economic, Environmental, Social, Cultural, Transport, Urban Development and Governance Strategies. I personally would be particularly interested in feedback on priorities - ie what is really important, and what is less important, and in what people think about areas we can and should save money in. (We'll have to make up for not charging for motorcycle parking for starters !)

Please feel free to call me or email me with any thoughts or questions on any Council issues.

Kind regards

Andy Foster

Wellington City Councillor

Urban Development Leader

ph 04 4769220/ 0274 883 524

**nudemetalz** · 1st March 2006, 21:50

That's a great answer I must say (even though I work for WCC).

**Slingshot** · 1st March 2006, 21:50

Lets organise a protest ride just for the hell of it...even if the council decides against charging for motorcycle parking.

As I wasn't around in the 60's and 70's and feel that I've missed on the protest action!!!

And I want to ride my bike up the steps of parliament.

**Zapf** · 1st March 2006, 22:18

Got the same reply as you Riffer, am glad he is taking the effort at 9:55pm

If council is hunting for money its eventually going to come from some place... its a pretty good point...

**Pixie** · 1st March 2006, 22:21

If you are going to be made to pay,then you deserve to have a whole parking place for each bike.
Stage a protest,a few hundred bikes,each using one parking spot,will soon change their minds.

They tried to force bikes to use one spot per bike in the 50's or 60's in Auckland.
To keep the milk bar cowboys away.
Only lasted a week apparently.

**Karma** · 1st March 2006, 22:30

Originally Posted by riffer

Please excuse what is going to be a standard reply - there is a good grapevine going amongst motorcyclists.

If the proposal does survive councillors' debates in the next couple of days (I suspect somewhat unlikely given the level of reaction already)

Two key quotes here I feel...

Firstly they know we can communicate and will speak out against things which bother us, and secondly they know they have more coming if they continue like this.

I'd suggest continuing with the eMails anyway... just to show we mean business.

**Velox** · 1st March 2006, 22:30

I don't think it is just a case of user pays. The council has a whole lot of other stuff that they're trying to promote and less traffick congestion and greenhouse gases are one of them. Making people pay taxes or getting subsidies (which is pretty much what parking money is right) is a main way that the govt influences behaviour so this all seems a bit ridiculous.

**Bandit Rider** · 1st March 2006, 22:51

Originally Posted by riffer

Just received this:

Thanks Simon

Please excuse what is going to be a standard reply - there is a good grapevine going amongst motorcyclists.

The proposal to charge for motorcycle parking is just one of about a dozen ideas put up by officers as budget options. The motorcycle charge doesn't seem to fit with our transport strategy which is indeed about reducing energy use by promoting alternatives to one person per car type commuting. (good urban form, walking, cycling, public transport, motorcycling etc) As a city we have been pretty successful in that. The % of people commuting by car has been dropping which is great.

If the proposal does survive councillors' debates in the next couple of days (I suspect somewhat unlikely given the level of reaction already) , please remember it remains a proposal and subject to consultation and public submissions, and would not come into effect until some time after the beginning of July, so please do make a submission in that instance. However if it doesn't please still take a look at the rest of the budget (the somewhat long windedly titled 'Long Term Council Community Plan' or LTCCP) because there are a lot of important issues in there for the city - and we will also be consulting on our Economic, Environmental, Social, Cultural, Transport, Urban Development and Governance Strategies. I personally would be particularly interested in feedback on priorities - ie what is really important, and what is less important, and in what people think about areas we can and should save money in. (We'll have to make up for not charging for motorcycle parking for starters !)

Please feel free to call me or email me with any thoughts or questions on any Council issues.

Kind regards

Andy Foster

Wellington City Councillor

Urban Development Leader

ph 04 4769220/ 0274 883 524

My Reply to Andy Foster below.

The more noise we make about this the better - let them find an easier target. Send emails - this will spread out of Wellington if it gets underway.

"Thanks Andy,

The background is helpful.

In relation to the “just a proposal” element, proposals of this kind in themselves are negative. People will not commit to alternative transport if “the rules” may change in six months time. It does involve a commitment of some thousands of dollars in the case of motorcycles. I agree the WCC has made a commitment to ecologically sound transport alternatives, it is important to be seen to be consistently committed, and not entertain public “brain-storming” that will discourage adoption of what you are seeking to encourage.

Making it convenient for users of alternative transport is critical if you want to get people out of cars. I would regularly cycle as well as use a motorcycle, except the office I am in now does not have a shower (only about 10 years old). Why is it not a requirement that office buildings have showers as part of the building code? Consistent commitment throughout the WCC’s area of responsibility is necessary.

In relation to alternative sources of revenue, first charges for motorcycle spaces would be a new source of revenue, not the loss of a source of revenue. The potential sources of revenue are essentially unending; you could charge an admittance fee for the library, but there are very good reasons not to contemplate that. It does not make sense to regard failure to charge for library admittance as revenue forgone – it is simply not an option if you want to achieve the objectives the WCC seeks from the library. Similarly, street space is a resource, it can be used for footpaths, roading, parking, leased to restaurants, gardens, etc. The use and revenue to be raised is dictated by an integrated allocation of the resource, using an area for a garden/seating is not revenue lost, it is simply a necessary element in making the city a place where people want to be.

Furthermore, without having the figures I suspect the profit margin on charging for motorcycle parks would be limited, after covering the additional costs of policing them. If so raising equivalent net revenue from car parks would be a small percentage increase – as it does not increase costs only revenue. If you want to discourage cars, charge more for carparks. But, there are limits - make it too inconvenient/expensive for people to come into the city and you affect commerce, and erode your rating base.

Just dealing with the transport issue, there is a fine balance. If you just want less cars and to save money stop capital works on roading. At peak hours many roads are at capacity or over capacity, gridlock discourages cars. It is also a very negative aspect of living in a city – Wellington has a significant advantage over Auckland in that regard.

In essence the objective is to maximise the use of efficient transport – public transport, cycles, motorcycles, walking etc. Therefore create bus lanes – don’t hesitate to speed up buses and slow down cars. Make sure the environment is safe for vulnerable road users – some policing of aggressive behaviour toward cyclist is long overdue. Make it more convenient to use a small car in town – why not reduce the size of some car parking spaces, and make them cheaper to encourage small cars. If there is a cost either fiscal, or inconvenience, impose it on the behaviour you want to discourage."

**Zapf** · 1st March 2006, 23:01

Reply from

Celia Wade-Brown - celia.wade-brown AT wcc.govt.nz @ 03/01/2006 10:38 PM

Thanks for contacting me.

I agree that more sustainable transport should be encouraged.
I doubt the motorbike charge will even be proposed in the draft budget. As a frequent cyclist, I share many issues about driver inattention and surface conditions.

When the draft "Long Term Council Community Plan" - (Council budget plus strategies) goes out for consultation in April/May, please have your say on the wider issues of sustainable transport: travel demand management, cycling, walking, public transport and more fuel efficient motorised vehicles havinmg priority over one person one car.

Regards
Celia

**Pwalo** · 2nd March 2006, 07:14

[QUOTE=Slingshot]Lets organise a protest ride just for the hell of it...even if the council decides against charging for motorcycle parking.

As I wasn't around in the 60's and 70's and feel that I've missed on the protest action!!!

Hey Slingshot I was around in the 70's anyway, and believe me protests weren't really that exciting. But it would be good to ride up the steps at Parliament. You'll just need to get a set of knobblies for the R6.

BTY is your R6 one of the black ones with the flame decals? One of these, 2 up, followed me up the Newlands off ramp the other evening. Looked damn nice.

**imdying** · 2nd March 2006, 07:48

Here's what was in my inbox this morning:

Hi
Thank you so much for your support to stop this outrageous proposal to charge motorcyclists a parking fee in Wellington. I only just picked up on it in the 1000 page report to Council's S&P committee yesterday and so I have been busy seeking your support at the 11th hr. Please tell your friends and fellow motorcyclists to speak up just as you have or we shall be on the back foot. We are already over charged for registration and double and triple charged for ACC. Keep up the pressure as if makes a difference as I go into battle on your behalf.

Cheers
Ducati owner
Bryan Pepperell
Wellington City Councillor

www.pepptalk.net

**XP@** · 2nd March 2006, 08:59

This is probably is not much interest But It does give an idea of where the cities money is coming from

http://www.localcouncils.govt.nz/lgi...ity-Council-F6

It also has info on all the other councils.

Oh, and I programmed the site ... well we have to make money somewhere...

**bungbung** · 2nd March 2006, 09:35

I received:

Dear Ola

On behalf of the Mayor, Kerry Prendergast, thank you for your email.

I will ensure your message is brought to the Mayor's attention.

Yours sincerely

Robin Roush

and:

Dear Ola

Thank you for your message.

The Council has not begun to consider its position on any proposal to charge for parking motorcycles. This morning we begin making decisions on our budget for next year and this is one of a very large number of possibilities that have been put to us by officials. Of course we are obliged to consider them all and I am sure that as residents or ratepayers you would expect us to do so.

Nonetheless a number of councillors have already expressed similar concerns to those you have set out. I share those concerns and I would be surprised if parking fees for motorcycles are introduced in this budget.

Regards

Alick Shaw

DEPUTY MAYOR