When the red and blue pattern and slow speeds go, so will the free parking.
On Monday, the Dunedin City Council will decide whether to end its ‘‘Safer CBD’’ measures immediately, or when the country moves to Alert Level 1.
It is not clear whether the measures have had their desired effect.
The 10kmh speed limit for a section of the city centre’s main thoroughfare, and the accompanying coloured dots, indicating a road shared by pedestrians, cyclists and cars, were part of a suite of Level 2-inspired measures approved for the city centre in a 9-4 vote by the council’s planning and environment committee on May 15.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was the Government’s ‘‘strong desire’’ to move to Level 1 as soon as practical, which could be as early as Wednesday next week.
Council infrastructure general manager Simon Drew said council monitoring showed ‘‘while about 30% of cars were driving 20kmh or slower, most cars were not driving at the 10kmh limit’’ and that most people were not using the safety measures to practice social distancing.
‘‘Observations showed that most people appeared to be paying little concern to the 2m physical distancing requirements, either on footpaths, inside shops or in the malls,’’ Mr Drew’s report to the council reads.
Further, Enterprise Dunedin staff surveyed 68 retailers and hospitality businesses in the affected parts of Princes and George Sts and found 51 respondents thought people shopping in the city centre were not using the safety measures to allow for physical distancing, 15 thought shoppers were, and two were unsure.
One of the advantages, listed in the report for council consideration is that with the immediate end of the measures, the collection of parking fees could resume; prior to the lockdown, parking fees generated $135,000 a week.
The other option for council consideration is to end the trial when the country moves to Level 1.
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Well done to all those Dunedin Drivers who refused to travel at the ridiculous speeds the City Council imposed on us without consultation!
DCC take note! The citizens of this city will only stand for much nonsense from you. Take this as your first warning.
Well Mr. Mayor how best to spend taxpayer's money now on your next brilliant idea.
As a regular driver in the city center, I can attest to just how difficult it has been to adhere to the 10 kph limit. Not just because that speed seems unnaturally slow from inside a vehicle, but also because there were zero pedestrians taking their chances on using the so called "shared space". Add to this the impatience of other drivers who get frustrated at anyone daring to even attempt the nigh on impossible task of complying with the speed restrictions.
In all, this has been a poorly thought out and badly executed attempt at social engineering.
Quote- "In all, this has been a poorly thought out and badly executed attempt at social engineering."
Exactly, it should never had reached the stage where the signs were to be ordered. I really don't see that Bidrose should have had any influence over this situation what so ever. She shot ahead with this plan with no consultation nor backing from the council, nor the public, then desperately tried to defend the situation and blame everyone else because it didn't work. Bidrose was jolly lucky no one was injured with such a ridiculous proposal and action. This was down to infrastructure and planning, not a role the CEO should have been involved in at all. Just shows how she is quite prepared to act as a mother hen weighing in with influence at every step. Aaron is young and inexperienced, his influences have no doubt come from the likes of Cull, Benson-Pope and Bidrose, that is why he comes across with no difference from previous mayoralty. Merely an easily manipulated front man for ongoing past agenda's. His career in local politics is being ruined by the stalwarts, though they would believe they are 'guiding' his political future. Grow a pair Aaron, this isn't going well.