Symonds St parking

**motorbyclist** · 25th November 2008, 01:54

SO, with summer coming up we will all be riding around trying to forget about uni - and at the same time the council will be building their new bus lane and generally making a bad situation worse as per usual.

Come first semester 2009 we will see a new wave of bikes in the sunny weather, even though petrol prices have dropped there will nevertheless be an increase in parking demand.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that there will be an increase in parking supply, and as it is there isn't always enough even in the winter.

The surface on which they expect us to park is so uneven that some places are un-parkable to some bikes.

The risk of theft is very high with likelihood of recovery being extremely low.

The risk of injury while maneuvering in and out of parks is somewhat frightening.

Frankly, this is not acceptable.

So, what exactly do we want, where do we want it, and how are we going to go about getting it before the next semester begins?

I'm thinking Alfred St parking being restored seeing as they are still yet to build their pedestrian mall and it is a relatively safe place to park, increased parking along symonds street seeing as they have removed all the car parks, and possibly a bar or anchors placed for us to lock our bikes down to seeing as they're going through and rebuilding the whole road anyway.

Personal safety will get better with the new pedestrian crossing going in. Personally I think the crossing is a downright stupid idea but it does offer windows in which to get in and out of a park without being hit by moving traffic.

**Squiggles** · 25th November 2008, 07:09

Its on my agenda for the "Motorcycle/Scooter Stakeholder Meeting" on the 9th

**Blakomen** · 25th November 2008, 08:54

I think Alfred St parking put back is a good idea! I mean, people still already look out for trade vehicles + buses + the occasional lawbreaker, I don't think bikes would make much of a difference in terms of safety.

And I know I'd rather get hit by a motorbike than a bus anyway >.>

**rie** · 25th November 2008, 09:23

Originally Posted by Blakomen

And I know I'd rather get hit by a motorbike than a bus anyway >.>

i can't imagine any pedestrians being "hit" by a motorbike on alfred st, realistically. likelihood is that motorbike will swerve to avoid idiot pedestrian running out onto road, motorbike will be completely wrangled (unless motorcyclist by sheer luck successfully dives under machine), and pedestrian walks off unscathed, later to tell their mates about their heroic attempt to avoid being hit by a motorbike.

but given that most bikes will probably be going fairly slow down what is a very short road, alfred st sounds v appropriate for bike parking.

what's the most effective way to make noise about this?

**PirateJafa** · 25th November 2008, 10:32

Originally Posted by rie

what's the most effective way to make noise about this?

Explosions!

**GSXR Trace** · 25th November 2008, 14:01

Originally Posted by rie

i can't imagine any pedestrians being "hit" by a motorbike on alfred st, realistically. likelihood is that motorbike will swerve to avoid idiot pedestrian running out onto road, motorbike will be completely wrangled (unless motorcyclist by sheer luck successfully dives under machine), and pedestrian walks off unscathed, later to tell their mates about their heroic attempt to avoid being hit by a motorbike.

but given that most bikes will probably be going fairly slow down what is a very short road, alfred st sounds v appropriate for bike parking.

what's the most effective way to make noise about this?

agreed - i would say alfred street sounds the most realistic fix at the moment, while more permanent work is done (since they want to make it into a mall or something).
although i dont park at uni much, im all in favour of getting better parking, i hate the rough parks on symond street, makes it all the more difficult for those of us with short little legs to park our beasts.

So if any help is needed, im in

**ital916** · 25th November 2008, 14:45

Supposedly all the parking will stay the same bar maybe a few more on the eng side. They are putting those big pot plants every 6 metres or something too. Alfred street would be lovely for bike parking again and the chance of theft would be lower that steal it street when we park now.

Andrew can you post up the plans that stephen got a hold of a while ago? Realistically I doubt they will give us symonds street as they will see motorcycles as a threat to the pedestrian traffic if only becuase we will be trying to park there and squeeze in between stuff etc. If they paved in front of eng better and got rid of all car parking in front of it, it would be primo.

I am keen to help out if needed.

**Phurrball** · 25th November 2008, 15:34

I'll happily be part of the posse when my exams are over...

**motorbyclist** · 25th November 2008, 15:44

Originally Posted by Drider87

Supposedly all the parking will stay the same bar maybe a few more on the eng side. They are putting those big pot plants every 6 metres or something too. Alfred street would be lovely for bike parking again and the chance of theft would be lower that steal it street when we park now.

I might note for those unfamiliar with the uni bike parking the we used to have parking all along alfred st

they removed it to make way for their pedestrian mall, which after more than a year is yet to materialise

after removal, parking was a nightmare until some harassment of the council by squiggles got the bike parking on symonds increased

Originally Posted by Drider87

Andrew can you post up the plans that stephen got a hold of a while ago? Realistically I doubt they will give us symonds street as they will see motorcycles as a threat to the pedestrian traffic if only becuase we will be trying to park there and squeeze in between stuff etc. If they paved in front of eng better and got rid of all car parking in front of it, it would be primo.

you mean the plans I found, or has he found some newer ones?

they got rid of all the car parking a few months ago. ie no parking at any time anywhere bar the loading zones. it was to make way for the bus lane, but they did it so early because then people wouldn't notice it was for the buses

they are going to re-pave the parking with "semi permeable" surface or something like that so the trees get some water

**ital916** · 25th November 2008, 17:33

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

I might note for those unfamiliar with the uni bike parking the we used to have parking all along alfred st

they removed it to make way for their pedestrian mall, which after more than a year is yet to materialise

after removal, parking was a nightmare until some harassment of the council by squiggles got the bike parking on symonds increased

you mean the plans I found, or has he found some newer ones?

they got rid of all the car parking a few months ago. ie no parking at any time anywhere bar the loading zones. it was to make way for the bus lane, but they did it so early because then people wouldn't notice it was for the buses

they are going to re-pave the parking with "semi permeable" surface or something like that so the trees get some water

The funny thing is the biggest hazard to students at uni is buses. They drive too quick, cant brake in time and most of the time bus drivers don't give a shit about how they drive so constantly nearly cause accidents. Add to that runnig red lights, failing to indicate as well as pushing other road users around. The only good out of having a bus lane is that bikes can use it, the big negative is you are going to have buses flying past the entrance to the eng building, though I thought that was all gonna be bike parking?

My apologies andrew, the plans you found. The problem is they hire civil engineers from auckland to design the tranportation changes and structure for auckland roads, which equals shit designs