Article from BTNews 15 AUGUST 2011
COMMENT: Parking mad
This week features AERBT’s monthly motoring review and so it seemed justifiable to highlight one of the problems of a simple life.
Is it just your Editor but is the world of parking going mad? Should there be a “Minister of Parking”? OK the Government has more serious problems than dealing with annoyed motorists who can probably deal with their own inconveniences but surely in this day and age of technology some consistency can be brought about when it comes to paying, often a very high price, for the privilege of parking a car.
Motorists in order to place your automobile in a designated bay you have to be armed with the following. If one item is missing you can be sure that is what is required of that particular spot. Every parking area seems to have a different way of paying!
Sterling coins are needed to the value of 20p, 50p and £1. Some machines might take the £2 pieces, but not all. A very few machines take £5 and £10 notes.
A credit card. A machine recently visited would only take debit cards.
And a mobile phone. Certain Councils in London will only take your parking booking by phone. It’s automatic once you have established contact and in truth getting through is relatively easy.
For the future 'smartphone' parking will be with us. That is if you have such a device and know how to use it.
Receipts are not the norm.
Be careful with NCP. They only take cash and do not give out change.
A “Minister of Parking” why not? At least some guidelines please regarding uniformity. Surely every motorist has a credit card. Make them compulsory for parking meters. Do something positive for the motorist.
MALCOLM GINSBERG
Editor in Chief
PS. The Department for Transport does have a Traffic and Parking Management web site. View it by all means. www.dft.gov.uk/topics/tpm
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