Shayne Mallard who has also just launched his team and campaign as the Liberal candidate for Lord Mayor of Sydney disagreed with the abuse of ratepayers money for a media stunt.
" When the Lord Mayor is seen on the evening news riding a motor bike through the city like the BBC's Jennifer Paterson, then you know an election is not far away," he said.Shayne criticised the sudden urgency of the policy and lack of notice given to Councillors to consider the policy before the Lord Mayor conducted a rate payer funded press conference and media ride.
Moving from the abuse of public resources for an election stunt to the substance of the policy, Shayne took issue at it's central proposal to give free parking to motorcycles in parking meter spaces.
The policy recommends free parking for motor bikes in parking meter spaces where car driving motorists including families and the elderly have to pay up to $6 cash per hour.
"In the so called name of 'equitable parking access' this administration is proposing to allow motor bikes to park for free where anyone with a car has to shell out cash."
"This is some twisted definition of equity especially given that the city has provided 600 all day free motorbike spaces in the past four years alone."
"I'm not aware of 600 all day free parking spaces in the CBD for car drivers- even those with an electric hybrid motor," Shayne added.
Councillor Mallard criticised the Council report for failing to realistically address the additional costs in lost parking revenue and parking enforcement.
"As it stands a parking ranger walks past parking bays and will fine vehicles at expired meters. Under Clover Moore's Bangkok motorcycle solution rangers will need to patrol the same parking spaces repeatedly chalking tyres like the old days. This will require more staff resources."
Shayne pointed to a more equitable solution in San Francisco (see picture taken by Shayne two weeks ago).
"When the City recently sent me to San Francisco, I observed their progressive and equitable system for motor bike parking."
"Individually numbered parking spaces for motor bikes were allocated amongst regular vehicle parking bays with meter displays for each bay. There is no need for a paper ticket at all.
'In San Francisco motor bike parking was one dollar an hour - about 20% of that for cars,"
"Considering motor bikes have unregulated exhaust emissions in Australia and produce about 70% of the greenhouse emissions per passenger kilometre when compared to cars, allowing them to take away car spaces for free seems French romantic but unsustainable," Shayne concluded.
Shayne supports other measures in the policy including education and advocacy proposals.
RELEASE ENDS
25 July 2008
"In the so called name of 'equitable parking access' this administration is proposing to allow motor bikes to park for free where anyone with a car has to shell out cash."
"This is some twisted definition of equity especially given that the city has provided 600 all day free motorbike spaces in the past four years alone."
"I'm not aware of 600 all day free parking spaces in the CBD for car drivers- even those with an electric hybrid motor," Shayne added.
Councillor Mallard criticised the Council report for failing to realistically address the additional costs in lost parking revenue and parking enforcement.
"As it stands a parking ranger walks past parking bays and will fine vehicles at expired meters. Under Clover Moore's Bangkok motorcycle solution rangers will need to patrol the same parking spaces repeatedly chalking tyres like the old days. This will require more staff resources."
Shayne pointed to a more equitable solution in San Francisco (see picture taken by Shayne two weeks ago).
"When the City recently sent me to San Francisco, I observed their progressive and equitable system for motor bike parking."
"Individually numbered parking spaces for motor bikes were allocated amongst regular vehicle parking bays with meter displays for each bay. There is no need for a paper ticket at all.
'In San Francisco motor bike parking was one dollar an hour - about 20% of that for cars,"
"Considering motor bikes have unregulated exhaust emissions in Australia and produce about 70% of the greenhouse emissions per passenger kilometre when compared to cars, allowing them to take away car spaces for free seems French romantic but unsustainable," Shayne concluded.
Shayne supports other measures in the policy including education and advocacy proposals.
RELEASE ENDS
25 July 2008
