Let’s rationalise parking in residential Sydney
February 20th, 2007
Differential pricing of parking permits according to the size of the vehicle would be a great idea for Sydney.
And the RTA is now accepting submissions about providing dedicated parking spots for car-share schemes.
Charging fuel-guzzling vehicles more forparking permitshas been working well in North Sydney and it’s yet another small thing we can do to minimise climate change.
Large cars use more street space and inflict more damage on local roads, which council has to pay for, so there is fairness in a differential rate. Council’s road maintenance spend is more than ten times the income from parking permits.
I would like to see charges for small, fuel-efficient cars reduced at the same time to further encourage downsizing.The sliding scale of chargeswould be based on the Federal Government’s Green Vehicle Guide.
This might also go some way to correcting the anachronistic five percent tax discount the Federal Government grants to imported four-wheel-drives.
Meanwhile the RTA has released a discussion paper on car-sharing schemes, which require dedicated parking spaces in residential streets.
While residents would lose access to a few spots, the idea is that these schemes make it easier to live without a car, so it would reduce their numbers.
Of the three options presented for comment, Option C seems to be the best way forward (it basically follows the existing Greens-sponsoredMarrickville Council system and can be implemented in three months). Option A limits dedicated spaces to off-street areas and Option B involves a 12-month delay while legislation is drafted.
