Street signs designed to take frustration out of finding parking

Sign on Fanshawe St. Picture / Brett Phibbs

New electronic signs have gone up in central Auckland to point shoppers to available carparks, but brought city officials under fire from advocates of alternative transport.

The $300,000 guidance system links six bulletin boards at entrances to the central business district with information updated every few minutes by radio signals from four Auckland City Council parking buildings.

These tell motorists how many vacant spaces are available at these buildings. In a week or so, information about two parking sites controlled by a private operator will be added, covering about 3350 parking spaces.

The signs are in Quay St, Wellesley St, Fanshawe St, Symonds St, Nelson St and Cook St.

City transport committee chairman Richard Simpson emphasised the system was designed for short-term visitors and provided no details about all-day commuter car-parks.

"We want to encourage people to use public transport wherever possible - it's about giving people more transport choices," he said.

Mr Simpson said a similar system tried in Britain had led to a significant reduction in the number of frustrated motorists seeking parking.

"International experience tells us that this innovative technology helps to take cars off the roads - it'll mean a lot less stress for visitors looking for parking in the CBD."

But that assurance carried little weight with Cycle Action Auckland chairman Bevan Woodward, who feared the bait of easier parking would attract more motorists and undermine moves to transport alternatives.

"They are putting their energies into the wrong message."

Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard said the scheme was about making the best use of facilities.

"It is not about building more carparks," he said last night. "It is about providing information to allow people to make intelligent decisions."