At 07:23 AM 4/12/2003, Justin wrote:
>I reckon there's great scope for Parking Meter Parties over
>summer. Whether they are official MBUG events or not (last one
>wasn't, but many MBUG folk were involved), I think that the
>success of the August party shows that a positive impact can be
>made on the streetside environment without copping flak from
>motorists. We should make it happen.

If you want to be strategic, use them to try and get traders on side for
that larger scale policy change.. Mario's might be a good starting point -
give him a boost for a day and see if he prefers that to having a car
parked out front..

>It was very interesting to see the article in TMT this week (and
>thanks for the plug of the PMP, Pete!)...

I'm just erked that Ingrid forgot that I was plugging this with my
local/cyclist/anything BUT PTUA hat on, which I specifically stated.. GRRR!!

I can't take this any further as it's not PTUA policy and is slightly (not
clearly, easily debateable actually, but still questionable) counter to a
stated PTUA position made a year or so ago about parked cars being a
necessary evil as they are a buffer between traffic and pedestrians.. Of
course, the diners themselves would serve the same function, just they
would have traffic right next to them instead of on the other side of
parked cars..

If local trader support is to get organised and actually happen, someone
from outside would need to pick it up and get the traders to present a plan
to council..

>And now look what the Mayor & co. are
>suggesting?! Life imitating art? We should be thankful that Yarra
>is progressive like that, though...

I wouldn't be so sure.. The Yarra Greens are shitscared that the voters
will see them as a party that just can't get into gear and do anything
green.. A council whose transport policy is to lobby for more parking at
the Abbotsford Convent site.. Hello! Borrow a few council minibuses and
shuttle people to and from the PT network and/or to a school or some other
site whose grounds could be borrowed on weekends..

Anyway, while I like the Greens, this lot has probably been as ineffective
as a Greens council could be.. A Car Free Day, like what's been bandied
around for later this year, is probably one of their few remaining hopes
that the public can see them as being different to previous councils..

Let's just hope that they get better services on the 207 that day/weekend,
that the trams don't detour around or stop short of the strips, and also
that they think to put up a large amount of temporary bike parking too..


PC