At 08:34 PM 3/12/2003, us wrote:
>just wondering if any more Parking Meter Parties or related MBUG
>events are being planned over the summer months?
>Seriously, think of a similar event to the one held back in August
>on a lovely summery evening....but not like the one Melbourne
>endured last night :0)

Well, several in the Greens have latched onto the idea of a large scale car
free day in Fitzroy/Collingwood some time between now and the elections,
and depending on how the traders feel, they may decide to give them the
option to rent car spaces for their own purposes too, should they decide
there's more value in 5 more tables than in one car space out the front of
their business..

---

The Melbourne Times 3/12
Leave the car at home and fill up with caffeine

[Cute comic of a parking meter cop sticking a ticket on a coffee sipping
person's forehead with an (S) "No Slurping" (No Standing) sign behind them]

CAFE-GOERS may replace cars in Brunswick Street's parking bays under a
radical plan to make the street more pedestrian friendly.

Floated during a recent brain-storming session held as part of a Yarra
Council public meeting on transport issues, the scheme has enthusiastic
backing from Yarra mayor Greg Barber and support from some traders.

Under the scheme, traders would rent the car bays for the same cost as the
parking meter fee. They could then set up additional chairs and tables in
the parking space.

Public Transport Users Association committee member Peter Cook said he
believed the idea would give traders more outdoor seating and the public a
more pleasant environment.

Footpath trading space has been squeezed in narrow strips such as Brunswick
Street because of the introduction of new Yarra Council footpath access
rules banning furniture and displays from the shop side of the pavement.

Mr Cook said the success of a World Car Free day event in August, where
sustainable transport campaigners staged a "parking meter party" in a
Brunswick Street parking space, showed the potential of the car park
takeover proposal.

Yarra mayor Greg Barber said his council would happily look at the idea if
it received a proposal from a group of traders.

Brunswick Street cafe elder statesman Mario Maccarone said the idea was a
"nice concept that would add to the flavour of the street" and deserved a
weekend trial.

However, Mr Maccarone, co-owner of Mario's cafe, said Brunswick Street was
desperately short of parking and most traders would not support the scheme
if it resulted in a net loss of car parking spaces.

Atomica Caffe owner Tolly Augerinos said he was not worried about losing
parking. He described the idea as fantastic.
-Ingrid Svensden

(Note - Any typos are my own)