Did you get a parking ticket @ Sydney MC Show ?

Went down to the Sydney MC on Sat & when we got there (10:30 am), all
the car parks were full. So we parked on the wide foot path at the
northern end of the Exibition Centre, along with about 30 other bikes.

Came back @ 2pm, only to find parking tickets being issued. Luckily
they hadn't got down to our bikes on the south side, so we got the
hell out quickly. Were any aus.motions unlucky enough to get a ticket
?.

 

I can't help answer your question but we should put something forward to the
State Government in regards to parking on the footpath like Victoria (as
long you your not obstructing people working). It makes sense since bikes
are small. It also prevents car knocking them over by mistake.

Trust the council to book every bike parked outside the MC show. Its
ridiculous. Pure revenue raising.

 

To be fair - thay did announce it several times over the PA system at the
show that any bikes there would get booked.

Manning

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 16 May 2004 03:43:28 GMT

Parking is one of the things the MCC is looking into, but we need more
manpower.

Just saying "We want footpath parking" will have no result at all.

A professional researched brief put to them in a professional way has a
much better chance. But unless people will volunteer to do the hard
work, it's not going to happen.

We need people who can take part in the projects on hand. Who can write
briefs, do research, attend council meetings, work with road safety
officers, keep records, co-ordinate people, understand and work with
statistics, understand and work with accounts.

WIthout people willing to do such things, nothing will happen.

If you want to help, then contact or ring Ray on
(02) 9833 7794

Zebee

 

Not during the 3hrs I was there. The only thing I heard over the PA,
was to announce what was happening next on the main stage.

 

You know it's illegal.... tough

Richard

 

No, but I've got a digi pic of the arseholes who did it, and I rang Guy
at the MCC stall to see if he could get an announcement put over the PA,
and we turned away a heap of people who were pulling in to park
there(couldn't stay there all day though I'm sorry)

JL

 

Depending on where you were, it was probably Darling Harbour Authority
who booked you, or Harbour Foreshore Authority. Not the council.

 

"Public Safety" will always be on top of the Governments list. Blind
people taping their canes on your bike and getting tangled up and
tripping over them will be the Governments worry, as will bikes
blocking wheelchair access etc etc..

Why not just loby for more on street motorcycle only parking in
greater areas across the city?

Sydney has the most pedestrian traffic of any city in Oz. Foot path
parking will never work or be allowed.

 

The blind tend to use walls of buildings as a reference point. In Victoria it's strongly suggested
that people park bike on the curb side of the footpath, where it's then seen as just another bit of
furniture such as poles, bins, etc. There are very few probs, if any, as a result.

That's very defeatist. Come visit Melbourne and see how it *does* work. Sydney's pedestrian traffic
isn't that much greater.

 

Yeah but being Sydney everyone will TELL you it's greater.....
Clem

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 16 May 2004 16:49:50 +1000

Footpath parking is only one possibility, and isn't useful for a lot of
Sydney streets.

The MCC has already had talks with Sydney council resulting in new
parking spots in the city last year.

A coherent sensible system of parking is needed, in the suburbs as well
as the CBD, guidelines for street parking, private shopping centres,
multistorey parks, and council parks. Bikes need to be seen as separate
from cars, with their own needs and advantages.

It won't happen on its own though.

Those who want it have to be willing to work for it.

Zebee

 

Just saying "We want footpath parking" will have no result at all.

I don't understand why research has to be conducted if the proposed idea
works perfectly fine in Melbourne?

But I believe what you say. Its unfortunate how difficult a process it seems
to be.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 16 May 2004 17:20:14 +1000

It's not the traffic, it's the road/path width.

Especially in the CBD, Melbourne's footpaths are generally wider. I was
suprised when I came to Sydney and realised how narrow a lot of them
are, but I suppose I should be - A lot of Sydney was built in convict
days without much money. Melbourne was mostly build on gold money and
was built a lot bigger because of it.

Be a lot easier to get better onstreet parking - single bike spaces in
odd corners, multistoreys required to provide bike parks at reasonable
prices - a low percentage of car costs for example. And so on.
Councils will be surprisingly willing if someone gives them guidelines
on size and space and numbers.

Zebee

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 16 May 2004 07:38:26 GMT

Does it? Ask the Melbourne Council and you might get another view on
that.

Next, find out the *facts* as to the differences between Sydney and
Melbourne. Determine the traffic patterns, the current road and parking
laws, the street widths, the path widths, the common road and footpath
surfaces, the building setback laws, and anything else that's going to
affect it.

Because that's what they'll want. Not "this other place that's probably
mostly sorta like Sydney in some parts, well it works there except that
it's opposed by a large faction of the council in the CBD and in other
areas".


Zebee

 

I think the biggest difference is that Melbourne city was surveyed while
Sydney just evolved. The Melbourne CBD was surveyed 15 years before any gold
was discovered in Australia.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 16 May 2004 19:32:43 +1000

Makes sense. Adelaide was surveyed too, and the streets and paths are
wide there.

Zebee

 

YES unfortunately I did.

Parked very innocently on the footpath on Bathurst St was my very
unimposing 250 Spada... I was parked INBETWEEN and right in front of 2
steel poles holding up a speed zone sign at the very bottom of
Bathurst St where there isn't much foot traffic. My bike was only
posing an obstacle to people who like walking into signposts.
Little bit of reasoning wouldn't have gone astray but HEY
Still got booked.

Chris

 

In aus.motorcycles on 16 May 2004 16:27:56 -0700

Well.. yes. "Is it legal to park here? let's see... it's not legal to
park on the footpath in Sydney usually, and there's no sign saying it's
Ok to park here, so I guess it's not legal. And they do book people for
parking illegally."

bit of reasoning does go a long way, you are right.

Zebee

 

[...she says, stepping off her high horse...].

j