I note with interest (and amazement) that the relentless souls at Adelaide City Council are once again trying to kill off people coming into the city during the weekend. I have never seen a council so desperate to grab whatever cash they can off the citizens of Adelaide. (Temporarily) scrapped is the $5 all day parking (on Sundays) and to replace it is the "much fairer" $6 for the first 3 hours, then (slap in the face) $25 for the 4th hour and $30 if you go into 5 hours.
So in other words, if I want to meet up with friends, catch a movie, then get a bite to eat, I get hit with a huge car park fee because you're not going to do all that within 3 hours.
I really think the ACC has got it totally wrong this time. I know they're not the brightest bunch of workers who pretend that Adelaide is still in the 70's, but this really takes the cake. OK OK, I hear from the distance "We are trying to make people use public transport - that's why we are putting ridiculous parking fee's in place".
Well, if you're trying to get people to use public transport more, then liase with Chloe Fox to get our pathetic public transport system running properly.
At the end of the day, we want a vibrant city filled with people who will support the various businesses - cafes, clubs, pubs, retail shopping etc. etc. The Adelaide City Council needs to become a bit brighter and think outside the square.
What about introducing a 'rewards' system for people travelling into the city on weekends AND on public transport. Each person could be given a card valid for that day only which will entitle the holder to discounts at various shops, pubs etc. Businesses could register their interest and maybe pay a small fee to help administer printing of cards etc.
But I see it now, the council will want to appoint a consultant who will charge ridiculous fees and the study will take no less than six months (to get the demographics right!), and then appoint another consultant to liase with the various bus/train/tram bosses (and Unions) to figure how they will teach the drivers of the aforementioned vehicles how to hand out the (aforementioned) cards. Given that many drivers (of buses anyway) stare into deep space whilst passengers are embarking and disembarking, they may need to do a TAFE course to learn how to engage positively with the passenger (instead of scowling at them as they put their ticket in the machine the wrong way 4 times).
Come on Adelaide City Council - start being positive about drawing people into the city. You have to make it affordable, easy and pretty much an all round good experience. I know too many people who are happy to shop around Burnside Village, Marion and TTP, and give the city a miss because it's too expensive to park, traffic control is pathetic and .. (sadly) Rundle Mall looks nothing like those vibrant colourful ads on telly.
Get Real
So in other words, if I want to meet up with friends, catch a movie, then get a bite to eat, I get hit with a huge car park fee because you're not going to do all that within 3 hours.
I really think the ACC has got it totally wrong this time. I know they're not the brightest bunch of workers who pretend that Adelaide is still in the 70's, but this really takes the cake. OK OK, I hear from the distance "We are trying to make people use public transport - that's why we are putting ridiculous parking fee's in place".
Well, if you're trying to get people to use public transport more, then liase with Chloe Fox to get our pathetic public transport system running properly.
At the end of the day, we want a vibrant city filled with people who will support the various businesses - cafes, clubs, pubs, retail shopping etc. etc. The Adelaide City Council needs to become a bit brighter and think outside the square.
What about introducing a 'rewards' system for people travelling into the city on weekends AND on public transport. Each person could be given a card valid for that day only which will entitle the holder to discounts at various shops, pubs etc. Businesses could register their interest and maybe pay a small fee to help administer printing of cards etc.
But I see it now, the council will want to appoint a consultant who will charge ridiculous fees and the study will take no less than six months (to get the demographics right!), and then appoint another consultant to liase with the various bus/train/tram bosses (and Unions) to figure how they will teach the drivers of the aforementioned vehicles how to hand out the (aforementioned) cards. Given that many drivers (of buses anyway) stare into deep space whilst passengers are embarking and disembarking, they may need to do a TAFE course to learn how to engage positively with the passenger (instead of scowling at them as they put their ticket in the machine the wrong way 4 times).
Come on Adelaide City Council - start being positive about drawing people into the city. You have to make it affordable, easy and pretty much an all round good experience. I know too many people who are happy to shop around Burnside Village, Marion and TTP, and give the city a miss because it's too expensive to park, traffic control is pathetic and .. (sadly) Rundle Mall looks nothing like those vibrant colourful ads on telly.
Get Real
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