Last week, when I went to teach at the University here in Auckland, I parked in the normal parking garage I use, known locally as the Aotea Center Parking area. It is a three story parking garage underground in the center of Auckland, owned and run by the Auckland City Council.
The thing I noticed immediately was that the parking charge had increased. It had risen by not 20%, nor 30% or even 40%, but a whopping 50% in user charges. It went from $2.00 per hour to $3.00 per hour in one fell swoop.
Not only is this a big increase, but for a country that supposedly prides itself on keeping inflation under control, it is massive. What to do? Nothing but pay and carry on or find some other place to park.
My first thought, of course, is "how can they justify this amount of increase?" The answer, of course, is that they can't. They simply see it as another way of increasing the revenue that the city council can use to do other things.
Having said that, if you ever wondered why cities charge you to park in the city at all, they will normally tell you it isn't really a money making scheme at all. Oh no. It's designed so that everyone will get a chance to park, and by charging for the space, that makes one not just park there all day for no reason and deprive others of a place to park to do their shopping or go about their business in the central business district. Think this answer is too simplistic to be true? Call up your own city council and ask why they do it, in parking lots and with parking meters, and I'll bet you get the same answer.
I am told that a few years ago, a man by the name of Edward DeBono, the founder of lateral thinking and the six hats consultation program, was asked by a city council in Europe to consult with them on parking in their city. He asked the same question and got the same response. He then thought about it and came up with a viable answer to their problems.
He suggested that, if it was not a money making scheme by the council, there was a workable alternative. He apparently suggested that they simply allow parking in the same places they do now, with no charge at all. The trick to ensure everyone got a fair deal? When you park your vehicle, you have to leave the headlights on for the duration of your park. Simple enough? Not many of us would park for very long knowing our lights were on. And, given a few hours, most of us would be able to do our business and still have enough left in the battery to start the car.
Did they adopt his plan? Nope, and I'll bet your city council doesn't either. Come on Auckland City Council. Admit it is just another way of increasing the city coffers and many of us would probably go along with it without thinking too badly of you. But now? I'm looking for another place to park.
Just my musings...
Mac
