BRONZ Auckland March meeting

[klingon]

The Auckland branch of BRONZ will be holding its March meeting on Wednesday:

Time: 7:30pm
Date: Wednesday 19 March 2008
Venue: Danish House, 6 Rockridge Ave, Penrose

On the agenda: One agenda item is the crackdown on pavement parking in Auckland. This is a chance for Our Ixion to update us on his progress in discussions with Auckland City Council, a chance to clarify your rights and responsibilities when parking your bike, and a chance for you to express your opinions about current policies and your suggested changes.

I also assume Ixion and the team will have some action points for us to take away with us. What can we do to persuade the Council that motorbikes are different to cars and that different rules should apply?

[rainman]

Damn. I wanted to come along to that but I'm not able to this week.

[klingon]

Damn. I wanted to come along to that but I'm not able to this week.

Yeah I keep meaning to get involved but I'm always busy with other stuff! I will be there on Wednesday though because I've really got a bee in my bonnet about the whole Auckland City Council bike parking issue.

I'm beginning to think that my calling in life is to be a stirrer

[Marmoot]

Would most probably be somewhere else due to other commitment, but it would be great if anyone can raise the issue about how the parking at the bottom of Gen-i building has been abolished last friday.

I notice there are normally around 20 bikes parked between the building pillars along Wyndham Street, as well as 4-6 bikes between the pillars along Hobson Street.

Building management Zoe Kilford released a warning notice citing the reason due to "Concerns have been raised that the motorcycles have been obstructing the footpath restricting access for disabled persons and are a health safety hazard to pedestrian legitimately using the footpath. [B]Council have also stated that the motorcycles are parking partly on the counsil footpath, thereby parked illegally."

The closest private carpark available to that area is Farmers Car Park (Hobson Stret) at $5/day for motorbikes.

Closest viable City Council carpark (free carpark) are downtown, Fanshawe St, and one on Mayoral Drive. All three are considerably far away to people working in Gen-i building's vicinity. And if anyone thinks of fitting more bikes into the parking building behind whitcouls (kitchener street?) they might want to get their heads examined.

Closest council roadside motorcycle parking bays is on Federal Street (Opposite 182) with only 11metres space, which would not be enough considering the number of motorcycles existing around the area.

Next closest parkings are on Lorne Street (I have heard unverified dubious reputation of being dangerous), Elliott Street (which is always overloaded), Princes Street, and Symonds Street.

I cannot understand how a relatively large motorcycle parking pools can be simply sidelined and thrown aside without a viable alternative being devised?
Afterall, we are there because we are trying to work to pay off our income tax and fund NZ operational cost!

[Squiggles]

Wish i could attend this one, but the mrs' birthday is wednesday. I shall have to pm ixion soon actually, have a few pictures from out and about that may be used in this battle for parking

[Ixion]

Unfortunately I'm not going to able to be at the meeting. However I will be briefing Finn Neilson , Vicepresident, who will chair the meeting , on the parking issues.

The Gen-i building issue appears to be more related to the Gen-i management rather than ACC. ACC complained about bikes spreading onto the footpath but had no issues with them being on the Gen-i property. However Gen-i building management seem to have seized on that as an excuse to ban the bikes form the front of the building.

We need to take it up with Gen-i, not ACC. Gen-i have suggested that motorcyclists "may wish to lease parking spaces within the Gen-i car park". Which probably identifies what their agenda is.

[rainman]

I'm beginning to think that my calling in life is to be a stirrer

Hey, at least it's a truly noble calling! We'd never get any change without people stirring...

[Marmoot]

Unfortunately I'm not going to able to be at the meeting. However I will be briefing Finn Neilson , Vicepresident, who will chair the meeting , on the parking issues.

The Gen-i building issue appears to be more related to the Gen-i management rather than ACC. ACC complained about bikes spreading onto the footpath but had no issues with them being on the Gen-i property. However Gen-i building management seem to have seized on that as an excuse to ban the bikes form the front of the building.

We need to take it up with Gen-i, not ACC. Gen-i have suggested that motorcyclists "may wish to lease parking spaces within the Gen-i car park". Which probably identifies what their agenda is.

Can Auckland City Council be compelled to intervene, or at least to look at providing alternatives for the workers in the vicinity?

[Finn]

We need to take it up with Gen-i, not ACC. Gen-i have suggested that motorcyclists "may wish to lease parking spaces within the Gen-i car park". Which probably identifies what their agenda is.

Telescum owns Gen-i. Good luck.

[Ixion]

Can Auckland City Council be compelled to intervene, or at least to look at providing alternatives for the workers in the vicinity?

Not legally compelled. ACC have no duty to provide or facilitate parking for anyone. Arguably the various companies that employ the motorcyclists could argue that the building management are changing to understood terms of the lease ("it is very hard to get staff. Availability of parking was one of the things that persuaded our staff to sign up with us. If you unilaterally withdraw and accepted practice we will lose employees"). Whether they (the employers) would do so I do not know

[Marmoot]

Not legally compelled. ACC have no duty to provide or facilitate parking for anyone.

Yes I am aware of this. However, given enough facts and requests surely ACC can be "logically compelled" to put motorcycle parking around the immediate vicinity into their transport masterplan?

Afterall, motorcyclists reduce traffic load etc etc (more arguments on this should be available widely over the internet and/or kiwibiker and I shall not divulge it in this thread).

Sounds like a good logic?

[more_fasterer]

I notice there are normally around 20 bikes parked between the building pillars along Wyndham Street, as well as 4-6 bikes between the pillars along Hobson Street.

Building management Zoe Kilford released a warning notice citing the reason due to "Concerns have been raised that the motorcycles have been obstructing the footpath restricting access for disabled persons and are a health safety hazard to pedestrian legitimately using the footpath. [B]Council have also stated that the motorcycles are parking partly on the counsil footpath, thereby parked illegally."

I wondered whose that blade was... sorry about the drool marks.

Gen-i's argument sounds like total bollocks. Disabled or enabled persons aren't gonna need to go between the pillars, as there's plenty of footpath space on either side - in an area that doesn't see an excessive amount of foot traffic.
As mentioned above, the statement about the council's input doesn't hold any water either.

[Marmoot]

I wondered whose that blade was... sorry about the drool marks.

I'll pass on the grooming bills to you later. The spots are starting to corrode. What toothpaste are you using?

Gen-i's argument sounds like total bollocks. Disabled or enabled persons aren't gonna need to go between the pillars, as there's plenty of footpath space on either side - in an area that doesn't see an excessive amount of foot traffic.
As mentioned above, the statement about the council's input doesn't hold any water either.

Regardless of bollocks or not, the focus on the issue should be delivering the message to council that this area is lacking a sensible motorcycle parking place, especially considering the number of active motorcycle commuters there.

I have identified some spots that hopefully may be worth mentioning:
- Cathedral Square: a lot of land space which would not hurt too much if Council can dedicate an area of 2 carspaces on the side somewhere. Consideration must be given to the Church service at 12pm; the parking spots should not rest against the church walls due to noise concern possibility. Parking on weekends should be discouraged due to foot traffic on the square.
- Federal Street: perhaps taking ONE carpark space along this street and convert it to a motorcycle parking may be a good idea.
- Between pillars on the side of Gen-i building along Hobson Street. Maybe Council can interfere into this matter and discuss with Gen-i building about devising a sensible parking system as this side of the building has much lower foot traffic compared to Wyndham street side.

Would be nice if ACC can remember that we are talking about WORKERS here (not weekend fun ride). These workers move Auckland's economy, contributes to district's operational cost in rates and costs, and to NZ in general as taxpayers! Perhaps it is about time ACC takes a turn and provides us with something instead of charging us for everything like it does most of the time.

[more_fasterer]

Regardless of bollocks or not, the focus on the issue should be delivering the message to council that this area is lacking a sensible motorcycle parking place, especially considering the number of active motorcycle commuters there.

Fair point.

I'll pass on the grooming bills to you later. The spots are starting to corrode. What toothpaste are you using?

Monteith's. Apologies.