Keep Wellington's motorcycle parking free - sign the petition!

[StoneY]

hey have we done a facebook page on this yet! Stoney should we set one up? we/I could do it in two sparrows (or one traffic warden) farts

The BRONZ facebook page has it but by all means go ahead and make a dedicated facebook page for the petition, good idea!

[cheshirecat]

footnote
Just entered it on visordown and http://www.bikechatforums.com/viewforum.php?f=51

[riffer]

I'd be interested in seeing the research that shows we don't reduce network conjestion, don't suppose they were good enough to provide a reference? And the later depends on the scale of each, much less volume with slightly higher toxicity is still a win for the environment.

In the interests of transparency, since I've already alluded to it, here's some of the discourse between myself and WCC reps:

Dear xxxx

thanks for this feedback. We will review the wording of our petition and resubmit the e-petition.

In the meantime, I'd like to ask you to pass on the following questions to the Manager of Infrastructure Performance:

1. Can you provide BRONZ with a 100% guarantee that motorcyclists will retain free parking and that motorcycle parking spaces will not be reduced or otherwise altered?

2. How long can you provide this written guarantee?

3. In light of the fact that EURO3 regulations (that ALL new motorcycles sold in NZ must meet) require motorcycles to have catalytic converters, which (allegedly) make motorcycles less environmentally damaging, and that motorcycles have had catalytic converters for as long as cars, could you please submit to BRONZ (at the CC'd email address) the research (or a link to it) that shows that Wellington motorcycle traffic is more environmentally damaging due to lack of compliance with environmental standards than Wellington motor car traffic?

4. Could you also please submit to BRONZ (at the cc'd email address) the research (or link to it) that shows the effect on the environment in Wellington that Serious Motorcycle crashes in the Wellington Central City, as opposed to Serious Motor Car crashes?

If this is not the correct way to request this information, or if we have to do this through an Official Information Request please could you let me know?

WCC response:

Hi Simon,

I have consulted with the relevant officer. This is probably not the best stage of the petition process to enter into debates about the traffic and environmental impacts of motorcycles. The most important task at the moment is to get the ePetition concerning charging fees up and running on the website.

The process of ePetitions is as follows:

- a member of the public applies for an ePetition
- epetition is approved or rejected. If rejected the ePetition applicant is encouraged to make relevant changes.
- wording of epetition is resubmitted if necessary
- epetition goes live on the website, and runs for the delegated time period
- when the epetition closes the epetitioner chooses which meeting / committee they wish to present the epetition to.
- at the chosen meeting an Officers' Response is written by a Council officer which expresses Council's point of view and other considerations. It is in this report that the Officer is likely to refer to research. The Officers Response is forwarded to the ePetitioner before the meeting.
- When the ePetitioner presents their petition, they can argue against the officers response, table information that supports their position and give background to the petition.
- The committee members make resolutions in response to the epetition. This may include, officers to consider the epetition to inform their work, officers to explore the request of the ePetition and provide feedback to the committee, that no further action will be required etc.

At this stage I encourage you to resubmit the wording for the background information for the ePetition as previously suggested.

[Zerker]

Signed


Zerker

[cheshirecat]

Facebook page just opened up for this

http://www.facebook.com/editprofile....00002001124789

I haven't added much having jsut done it so imput welcome, especially photos.

[bogan]

thanks for posting that riffer, pisses me off that they would claim to have studies against your point, but be unwilling to give you the reference, but I guess that just shows what we are up against...

[TygerTung]

I have signed the petition and I emailed the mayor of Wellington. I live in Christchurch, but I am concerned about this as I believe it could set a precedent.

Here is the letter I sent:

Dear Mayor Celia Wade-Brown,

I am writing to give you some input regarding the proposed changes to the Wellington parking, specifically, the proposed changes regarding motorcycle and scooter parking.

I believe that you should not charge motorcycles for parking for the following reasons:

-They take much less room to park, you could fit around 8 motorcycles in the place of one car.
-They reduce congestion on the road as they are much smaller than cars.
-They have less emissions than cars.
-They use less fuel, and other resources than cars such as oil and other consumables.
-They cause less wear on the road as well as they are much lighter

This lighter smaller, more eco friendly form of transport should be encouraged, rather than discouraged. If more people rode motorcycles and scooters there would be much less congestion on the roads, less pollution in the air, and less resources used.

I earnestly recommend that motorcycles remain free to park in the Wellington area.

Yours Sincerely,

Samuel James Lochiel Stockwell

[riffer]

thanks for posting that riffer, pisses me off that they would claim to have studies against your point, but be unwilling to give you the reference, but I guess that just shows what we are up against...

Just the start of the battle my friend. I'm kind of looking forward to it. If there's one thing I can do, it's digest vast amounts of information and turn it into a compelling argument for my case. And when it's about something I'm very passionate about like motorcycling, then gawd help those who stand in my way...

As they said, once we present the petition, then we can absolutely hammer them with enough information to shut the Manager of Infrastructure Performance up once and for all.

[rustic101]

when you are facing a huge bill for the actions of others you may tend to focus on the money as well

Not disagreeing as I'm Blue through and through...

What I bloody do object to is paying for that bloody stadium.. Every time I've been to a rugby game I have to pay full price I mean wtf I'm already paying part of my rates to the GWCC solely for the steal monster..

[steve_t]

How long does it take for the confirmation email to come thru? I checked my spam etc and it's been about 10 mins already

[cheshirecat]

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home

photos, links etc welcome

[riffer]

This one might help better than your home page link.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...00002001124789

[cheshirecat]

That's weird - thought this was on a new thread. dam slippery that facebook.

[SpankMe]

How long does it take for the confirmation email to come thru? I checked my spam etc and it's been about 10 mins already

Should be instant, try again.

[Jvala]

I happily signed the petition. But - motorbikers can’t win, can we? Firstly the Govt stings us with higher ACC levies despite evidence showing it’s unnecessary; regardless, we keep on biking. Secondly, by motorbiking to work, we reduce congestion on motorways etc. just to find that cars regularly are using bike parks for their short term parking. And now, we supposed to pay for the privilege of reducing traffic jams – defies logic. WCC, please go to European cities and observe what’s happening there. They are happy to allow bikes (with or without engine) to park very densely. My plea – do your homework instead of thinking of ways to fill council coffers.