‘A prank?’: Melbourne council slammed over free 15-min parking

A Melbourne council has been slammed online after offering free 15-minute parking for those looking to “run an errand” or “take in city vibes”.

A Melbourne council has been slammed after sharing a social media post promoting a free 15-minute parking initiative which has been labelled a “fail” and a “joke” online.

In a video shared on Instagram, the City of Melbourne explained they will waive parking fees for drivers needing to run a quick errand in the CBD as long as they return to their vehicle within 15 minutes.

Under the initiative, drivers can park in a “green signed” parking space such as a ‘2P Meter’, and start a 15-minute session on the Easy-Park app to claim the offer.

Drivers can park for free in “green signed” parking spaces. Picture: Instagram/@cityofmelbourne

Drivers will need to start a session using the EasyPark app. Picture: Instagram/@cityofmelbourne

The council suggested the initiative can be used to “run an errand, support a local business and take in city vibes”.

However, the post was quick to receive backlash, with Melburnians blasting the tight time restriction.

“Surely this is a prank?” one person questioned.
“As if you can take in the vibes in 15min. And based where the carpark spots are, you’d barely make it to the shop or restaurant and back in 15,” said another.

“15 mins? Such overwhelming generosity,” another commented.

“How can you support any business in 15 minutes time? By sprinting to a shop and run back to the car only to find a ticket on the dashboard?,” wrote another person.

When asked about the initiative, City of Melbourne said more than 90,000 people had taken up the free parking offer since it was first introduced in the central city in July.

“Drivers are embracing the flexibility of our new free 15-minute parking system, which is opening up the city by giving more drivers access to free parking outside more businesses and services,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said in a statement in November.

“Early data shows our parking improvements are working exactly as intended – keeping spaces turning over outside city businesses, while making it easier to find a park.”