RACV proposal to cut city parking spaces for bike, vehicle lanes

THOUSANDS of city on-street parking spaces would go to make way for extra bicycle and vehicle lanes under a radical RACV proposal.

City parking spaces would go to make way for extra bike and vehicle lanes under a radical proposal from the RACV. Picture: Mark Stewart

THOUSANDS of city on-street parking spaces would go to make way for extra vehicle and bicycle lanes under a radical RACV proposal.

City of Melbourne councillors are already due to vote tomorrow night on a separate move that would put hundreds of on-street parking spots out of reach of most drivers.

RACV roads and traffic manager Dave Jones said paid on-street parking was in many cases a waste of space.

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CBD parking spaces could go for bike lanes under a radical proposal. Picture: Mark Stewart

“We say that on-street parking is a pretty inefficient use of valuable street space, in particular where there are competing demands for traffic lanes and bicycle facilities,” the motoring group manager said.

“These spaces could be better used for car lanes, bicycle lanes, and bus lanes.

“If there is a demonstrated cycle route in a particular corridor and there is on-street parking, then perhaps that parking should go so that a cycling lane can be provided and the traffic lanes can remain as they are.”

Mr Jones said councils could provide alternative parking elsewhere, such as in side streets and off-street car parks.

But Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said that previous attempts to get rid of parking bays had sometimes led to the demise of shopping strips.

“This is jobs, this is people’s livelihood — you just can’t keep taking away this parking area and not sacrifice retail stores,” he said.

A council spokeswoman said the municipality was busier than ever, catering for more than 850,000 residents and visitors a day.

“On-street parking is particularly important to businesses and retailers, as it makes the city more accessible for short-term trips that have to be undertaken by motor vehicles,” she said.

Council will tonight consider a proposal to make more on-street parking spaces available exclusively to car share schemes, in which drivers pay a monthly fee and are then charged per hour when using share cars.

Currently, council provides 210 on-street spaces for the schemes, but if the plan is approved this would rise to 600 by 2021.

Net parking meter revenue losses for the council would increase from $230,000 a year now to almost $600,000 by 2021, but some of that money would be recovered from car share operators.

Greens councillor and transport portfolio chairman Cathy Oke said the schemes were proving very popular.

“There are a lot of residents in apartment buildings where there aren’t car park spaces, and you don’t get a parking permit on the street either,” Cr Oke said.

@JMasanauskas