Editorial: Shorter parking times still good deal

The Rotorua District Council is asking residents for their thoughts on time limit changes, 10 months into its 18-month free parking trial.

It will be interesting to see the outcome of a council review of free parking in the inner city.

The Rotorua District Council is asking residents for their thoughts on time limit changes, 10 months into its 18-month free parking trial.

It wants to know if the 120-minute limit is too long in some places and if people want to see any other changes.
Some retailers say traffic movement could be improved if the free parking period is reduced.

That certainly seems to make sense - especially given the way some inner city workers are using the parks their bosses would prefer customers used.

Finding the right balance is important. Yes it's great that shoppers can take their time browsing and buying from multiple stores, but given the average stay in the free 120-minute parking area is about 43 minutes, you could probably get away with pulling back the time limit by, say, 30 minutes.

It can be difficult finding a park at times - especially in the streets around the City Focus or along Eruera or Pukuatua Sts.

How many times have you come into the central city looking to park somewhere near the shop you're heading to and had to go around the block or park miles (well ... blocks) away?

First World Problems maybe, but even a slight reduction in the free parking time limit would create more opportunities for shoppers to visit local stores.
Things could come unstuck when it comes to customers of hair salons, movie theatres and maybe restaurants, where 90 minutes could prove a bit tight.

And if our street poll (in yesterday's Rotorua Daily Post and online) is any indication locals won't appreciate seeing free parking time reduced.
But there's no such thing as a free lunch, and if the price we have to pay for an efficient and successful free parking system is an allowance of only 90 minutes to shop, it's a price worth paying.