Using motorcycle car parks in Auckland

**p.dath** · 15th July 2009, 13:12

Don't know about you, but when I take the bike somewhere I tend to park the bike at the closest spot to the location I'm visiting (at the front door if I can get away with it).

I was talking to someone a while ago, and they told me it costs the council $1,000 for every "car" park they convert to a "motorcycle" park. The bulk of this cost is the resource consent process (yep, you have to submit a resource consent application to change the nature of what is going to be parked in that same spot - go figure).

As I rode past a motorcycle park today I decided to turn around and use it. It was only a short extra walk.
I figure that if more people start using the motorcycle parks that will encourage the council to convert more "car" parks. It would be great eventually if every street in Auckland that has marked "car" parks has at least one marked motorcycle park.

So, going to join me?

**Dare** · 15th July 2009, 13:28

I park in the motorcycle park at uni on a daily basis, unless I arrive late and the park is full to overflowing. Then I park at the front door

Seriously though it gets so full that people get tickets for parking *just* outside the spaces... Which is dumb if you ask me. This is the one behind brooklyn bar on q st.

**Exodus** · 15th July 2009, 13:34

Wellington has a policy that encourages bikes in the city (or any form of transport that isn't a car). They only pay attention to bikes on the footpath if they block foot traffic, otherwise they are largely ignored.

From what I've seen bikes are normally parked on the footpath because the bike parks are full (or over-full in some cases). Other's may disagree, but I'd say Wellington has a fair few bike parks dotted over the city too.

I park my bike at work, but on the weekends I try and use the marked bike parks. Wouldn't it be easier to write to council asking for more bike parking rather than assume they'll notice they don't have enough?

Just a thought.

**Phurrball** · 15th July 2009, 13:53

Auckland City Council have a periodic dialogue with 'stakeholder' groups of 2 wheeled interests. (Scoter clubs, bike clubs, BRONZ, University Bike Club etc)

If you have specific issues with parking, or roading let one of these groups know, and it'll be raised with ACC parking 'services'.

Squiggles and myself from the University bike club, Ixion from BRONZ are a few that are on KB who can pass issues on to the authorities.

I was thinking of starting a sticky thread in the University bike club forum as a convenient way to record issues - good idea?

Of course, you're always free to get in their ear yourself...

**bogan** · 15th July 2009, 17:21

just got done for parking where a motorcycle park used to be (i always park in marked motorcycle parks unless theres none withine a good 200m) the sign was still up, but they had put broken yellow lines down instead of the yellow park outline that used to be there, a fair enuf mistake i thinks, have disputed it, will see what happens though.

**JimO** · 15th July 2009, 17:51

they cost the council $1000, who processes the resource consent, the council??? but they just made $ 1000 converting that park

**gwigs** · 15th July 2009, 18:09

If you had a Harley you could park it on the footpath.....they are exempt arent they

**rosie631** · 15th July 2009, 18:30

Originally Posted by gwigs

If you had a Harley you could park it on the footpath.....they are exempt arent they

They most certainly are

**MDR2** · 15th July 2009, 18:46

Dunedin is an awesome place for bike parking, spoilt for choice as far as parking around work goes (moray place).

Something I thought was a good idea, when visiting Melbourne, my sister tells me parking on the footpath is allowed in an effort to encourge bikes into the city... I'd certainly take a bike in as opposed to a car if i had to choose.

but then Melbourne has the fore sight to have incredibly wide foot paths...

**Rayray401** · 15th July 2009, 19:14

Originally Posted by MDR2

Dunedin is an awesome place for bike parking, spoilt for choice as far as parking around work goes (moray place).

Something I thought was a good idea, when visiting Melbourne, my sister tells me parking on the footpath is allowed in an effort to encourge bikes into the city... I'd certainly take a bike in as opposed to a car if i had to choose.

but then Melbourne has the fore sight to have incredibly wide foot paths...

Thats what taiwan has....incredibly wide footpaths for scooters...but you can people abusing them...people who cant park a bike properly

**mattian** · 15th July 2009, 19:30

Originally Posted by bogan

just got done for parking where a motorcycle park used to be (i always park in marked motorcycle parks unless theres none withine a good 200m) the sign was still up, but they had put broken yellow lines down instead of the yellow park outline that used to be there, a fair enuf mistake i thinks, have disputed it, will see what happens though.

hey man.... if the signs still up you should be able to get out of that. Go back and take a photo and, try and get some random stranger or passerby to be an independent witness for good measure. Some people are nice enough to do that for you.
If there is still a sign post up saying you can park there then, thats there fuck up, not yours.

**Mully** · 15th July 2009, 21:03

Originally Posted by p.dath

I was talking to someone a while ago, and they told me it costs the council $1,000 for every "car" park they convert to a "motorcycle" park. The bulk of this cost is the resource consent process (yep, you have to submit a resource consent application to change the nature of what is going to be parked in that same spot - go figure).

That doesn't sound right. I would suggest that the Council's definition of "cost" included the lost revenue from cars parking there and bikes being able to park for nothing.

I can't imagine they would need a resource consent for that (what do they do, just paint a m/c outline in the park?)

**bogan** · 15th July 2009, 21:38

Originally Posted by mattian

hey man.... if the signs still up you should be able to get out of that. Go back and take a photo and, try and get some random stranger or passerby to be an independent witness for good measure. Some people are nice enough to do that for you.
If there is still a sign post up saying you can park there then, thats there fuck up, not yours.

yeh did that, they reviewed the case and said i still have to pay, thier pics didnt show the sign though so i sent my pic in, see what happens, bastards want 60 bucks for it too

**CookMySock** · 15th July 2009, 22:28

There are so many little gaps to park a bike in. We used to park right outside the bank, but they, er, ah, asked us not too, coz, ahh, err, bad things started going through their minds, like, um, motorcycle robberies and stuff.

Steve