Beware - changes in parking regulations in University Area

ladeeda

ladeeda wrote: »

There is some metered street parking off Botanic. I usually have no problem finding a space. I think the road is called Mount Charles. On the right if your heading along Botanic Avenue towards Queens library. You can park for up to 4 hours. That said, I still got a ticket. The wardens are quick.

It's not Mount Charles, it's the next right on your way up to the Queens library. Lower Crescent. When you look up the road all you see are no entry signs but there is a left turn to the parking. £1.20 per hour and easily 30 spaces. Was there yesterday & day before and had no trouble finding a space.

belfastgirl23

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

I think the BIG issue here is lack of planning at a wider, combined agency, city wide level... As Old Git says, if true, why was Bradbury centre allowed to be developed with only 12 parking spaces? Why was the Gas Works developed with pretty much no parking provision. It relies on the car parks across the road from it but what happens when that area is built on??.... more chaos.. Queens have a car park but why would they not build it 3 stories? they could easily have built it that high with no real impact on the surrounding area if built to a similar building design.. if these areas are going to be developed, they should be made consider parking requirements..

I think there is planning but the planning is predicated on the fact that people should be discouraged from bringing their cars into the centre of Belfast. So if you make it a lot less convenient to do so, that will motivate people to park and ride. Personally I'm in favour of this. But then again I can't drive during the day because I can't get parked if I do or it takes too much time, so the current situation does take me off the roads pretty effectively.

I'll bet Queen's tried to get a bigger car park through for planning! They don't have anywhere near enough parking for people who work there, never mind students.

tara747

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

I think there is planning but the planning is predicated on the fact that people should be discouraged from bringing their cars into the centre of Belfast. So if you make it a lot less convenient to do so, that will motivate people to park and ride. Personally I'm in favour of this. But then again I can't drive during the day because I can't get parked if I do or it takes too much time, so the current situation does take me off the roads pretty effectively.

I'll bet Queen's tried to get a bigger car park through for planning! They don't have anywhere near enough parking for people who work there, never mind students.

I'm in favour too. Most car journeys are under 2 miles (there is a link to support this, I'll find it if anyone wants it). Clearly, many of these could be made on foot or by bicycle - not everyone is carting machinery or bulky goods around with them. So anything which discourages car use, reduces congestion and makes streets more pleasant for people is a positive step.

Witless

tara747 wrote: »

I'm in favour too. Most car journeys are under 2 miles (there is a link to support this, I'll find it if anyone wants it). Clearly, many of these could be made on foot or by bicycle - not everyone is carting machinery or bulky goods around with them. So anything which discourages car use, reduces congestion and makes streets more pleasant for people is a positive step.

What about those of us for whom the average journey is greater than 40 miles? And from areas which are poorly served by public transport? Due to their closing time I can't use the Sprucefield park & ride, but then being a rural / west of the province dweller I realise I don't count in the greater scheme of things.

tayforth

Witless wrote: »

What about those of us for whom the average journey is greater than 40 miles? And from areas which are poorly served by public transport? Due to their closing time I can't use the Sprucefield park & ride, but then being a rural / west of the province dweller I realise I don't count in the greater scheme of things.

Understandable that you need to drive into Belfast.

BUT... do you need to park right beside where you're going?

Witless

tayforth wrote: »

Understandable that you need to drive into Belfast.

BUT... do you need to park right beside where you're going?

I have to park somewhere.

Sprucefield AFAIK closes at 19:00, I assume the others are the same.

And given that approx 30% of my take home pay is travel costs, paid car parking isn't an option.

belfastgirl23

Witless wrote: »

I have to park somewhere.

Sprucefield AFAIK closes at 19:00, I assume the others are the same.

And given that approx 30% of my take home pay is travel costs, paid car parking isn't an option.

Fair enough, 7pm is not good. Why not lobby them, start a campaign for later opening hours? Even another hour might make a difference.

irishjohn

Witless wrote: »

I have to park somewhere.

Sprucefield AFAIK closes at 19:00, I assume the others are the same.

And given that approx 30% of my take home pay is travel costs, paid car parking isn't an option.

What about Blacks Road Park and Ride at Dunmurry?

D.A.

It also closes at 19:00.

tara747

Witless wrote: »

I have to park somewhere.

Sprucefield AFAIK closes at 19:00, I assume the others are the same.

And given that approx 30% of my take home pay is travel costs, paid car parking isn't an option.

Sadly, there isn't enough space for everyone who wants to park, especially in residential areas with narrow streets. Personally, I'm in favour of living streets. I wouldn't like to see Belfast turned into a mini LA, with houses and trees razed to the ground to make way for more cars.

Then there's also the fact that if you choose to live far away from your place of work/study, your transport costs are going to be higher. I live in Belfast because I work here, and I don't want a long, expensive commute. I can walk to work in 25 minutes. It's very relaxing and costs nothing.

Would I like to live in the country? Sometimes I think I would. Nice scenery and all that. Would I spend two hours a day in a car (and thousands of pounds per year) on commuting? No way.

It's all about priorities.