“Dunedin has walked away from a controversial cycleway through the student quarter, with the mayor using his casting vote to decide its fate.” 🙄 Even though it was fully funded by the NZTA and had the full support of the @universityofotago.bsky.social
Boo.
This seems counterproductive and dumb.
All the quotes about carparks....
FFS. It was shit that the plan included getting rid of the trees, but what a bunch of wastes of space we have on council and as mayor. Next time, plan to make it one way, keep the trees, and use the space from the other carriageway as a bike lane. Then they'll all choke on their rage & it might pass
What a tosser. He is gone. Unfortunately i cant vote. But some students can.
He is. But still disappointing. 😕
I’m sorry it sounds like a really backward move
FFS!
Nice of Stuff to include 'controversial' in the description... They've never seen a pitch they couldn't queer.
Lemme guess. Students don’t cycle. Right!?! Won’t someone think about the cars ……
Yep. And liquor store needs parking, because drinking and driving go so well together. 🙄
They could have gone with "mayor controversially using his casting vote"
That's NZTA funding they'll never get back. But, ya know, parking 🙄
This is dumb. I agree that the lose of parking has been hugely problematic, but why are there no alternatives to providing free parking for students and hospital workers (something that should have happened before now to replace the lost free parks). Both parking and cycleways are essential.
Free parking isn’t really free. It’s better to call it subsidised parking as it’s the costs are just shifted elsewhere (built into tuition, hospital budgets, or covered by rates). Parking spaces costs institutions significant money for construction, maintenance, and land use.
You can call it what you like. The cost should not be shifted to students and hospital workers who can least afford it and have no other options. The city benefits from these demographics and should cover the cost of parking and cycle lanes.
I agree they need support. That’s exactly why we needed proper alternatives. The city should invest in better public transport, park-and-ride with shuttles, or subsidised transport passes. Just shifting parking costs around doesn’t solve the underlying transport access problem.
No, not support. The free parking they had. PT is not available when you are working shift work. Students especially are already working free hospital shifts as it is. My household alone is now paying $150 p/wk to make up for the lost parking. It is us (and the many like us) doing the subsidising.
Yes cars are expensive. A small car is $2,000+ in ongoing cost per year. Let alone a big car that needs lots of petrol. For shift work; we are happy to be living in such a walkable city. There is lots of parking (including free parking) within 10-15 minute walk. For day shifts busses are great.
We are talking about the parking costs, not the car costs. No household should have to fork out $150 in parking just to work. Would you walk a 15mins to your car at midnight after a full shift? I would not. Your attitude to workers is pretty appalling to tbh.
I would. Grew up in Europe where that’s very common. And I actually had night shifts and would have to do that every time.
Well staff don't feel safe to do so, so aren't despite what you would do. Perhaps you should spend some time talking with the actual workers. They are either haven't to spend a lot out of their pay for a park or they have spouses etc double driving to pick them up. No less car use, just more burden.
No wonder our hospital is so short staffed.
PT is of no use when you work shift work.
That is so frustrating.