http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10595137
Free after-hours parking on central Auckland streets is likely to be rolled back as pay-and-display charges are extended until 10 each night.
The council’s parking services group says growing numbers of inner-city residents are monopolising free spaces all night, making it harder for others to reach restaurants, cinemas and bars in the evenings.
A six-month trial will start within a week in several streets around the eastern side of Viaduct Harbour, where parking is under pressure because of the area’s mix of bars, restaurants and apartment buildings.
I can’t see this working very well. It appears as a cunning scheme by the council to try and raise money, however it will do so at the downturn of patrons etc visiting the bars and restaurants. Instead they will stay at home until later, having longer home drinking sessions and will end up coming into town already tipsy and possibly over the drink driving limit, and when they get into town they will probably spend less money because of the amount they have already consumed.
As for residents taking the spots. That fails a number of tests, the first is where do they park the rest of the time? Do they go around in circles from the time the meters start to the time they start work, and repeat at the end of the work day? Are they able to park for free at their work? Do they work in town? If they do why do they need a car if they both work and live in town? If they don’t work in town why do they live there? It makes no sense and I think the council is blaming things on a non-existent problem.
Scratch the surface and this appears to be little more than a cunning but flawed plan to make money. It is bound for failure.
