I don't condone vandalism but...

[st4]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7404313.stm

you gotta laugh.

 

[Gollom]

Not sure why it's amusing?

Not a criticism BTW - just curious

 

[stats007]

If it were Parking Wardens I'd see the amusement .

In no way am I condoning covering humans in foam and setting light to them

 

[st4]

Not sure why it's amusing?

Not a criticism BTW - just curious

An instrument of collecting motorists money is temporarily out of action. If you can't get a parking ticket, then you park for free....

 

[stats007]

I was under the impression if the machine is broken the bay is suspended - at least on the traditional timer ones.

 

[st4]

I was under the impression if the machine is broken the bay is suspended - at least on the traditional timer ones.

So they block out a decent parking space just because they can't turn a profit on it.

 

[whitenemesis]

So they block out a decent parking space just because they can't turn a profit on it.

So the louts that set fire to the meters have deprived motorists of legitimate parking spaces... Helpful

 

[st4]

So the louts that set fire to the meters have deprived motorists of legitimate parking spaces... Helpful

When you put it like that....

But why would the council not allow people to park for free until they fix the meters. Its not the motorists fault that they were vandalised, so why should they reap any negative consequnces. It just goes to show that we are seen as money making machines, not as people with needs.

It was the response of the Police that got me, especially compared to their response about the vandalised cars. They seemed much more fired up about the £2k damage to council property than the £250k damage to the cars down in London that got vandalised.

 

[verytalldave]

Trouble is - who eventually pays for this?

And I think we all know the answer to that.

So while I can appreciate the feeling in the original post, upon reflection its us AGAIN who pick up the tab. And thats not funny.


Although I must admit, when I pass a Gatso thats been a victim of a burning tyre, I might just raise a very little smile..............

 

[st4]

Trouble is - who eventually pays for this?

And I think we all know the answer to that.

So while I can appreciate the feeling in the original post, upon reflection its us AGAIN who pick up the tab. And thats not funny.


Although I must admit, when I pass a Gatso thats been a victim of a burning tyre, I might just raise a very little smile..............

True, you are right.

 

[chriswt]

I've set fire to a ticket machine before and even got paid for it!

I've set fire to a ticket machine before and even got paid for it.

Down our road is a ticket machine for non permit holders and when a family member came to visit I took a short walk down the road to get a ticket.

After several minutes of unsuccessfully trying with a car key and 50 pence piece to clear the jam of coins that had gathered in the coin slot I gave up and whacked the red cancel button…No sooner had I done this the machine spat out 4 pound coins whilst the coin slot remained blocked.

I walked back to the house and about 10 minutes later two of the neighbours kids came running past the house slowly followed by a fire engine. Apparently the two young girls had spotted the ticket machine with smoke pouring out of it and their mother called the fire brigade.

However, the ticket machines on our road are actually a necessary evil to prevent Northern Line commuters using our street as a free parking area and walking up to High Barnet station.

Also I don’t like wasting any emergency services time, although I’m sure it would have malfunctioned and self destructed sooner or later anyway.

 

[Dieselman]

However, the ticket machines on our road are actually a necessary evil to prevent Northern Line commuters using our street as a free parking area

Which is what all ticket machines are for.
If there is no charge and time limit/regulation people overstay their times in the bays.

 

[chriswt]

Which is what all ticket machines are for.
If there is no charge and time limit/regulation people overstay their times in the bays.

True and 20p per hour is very reasonable in our street.

BUT...20p per 3 minutes in Westminster and absolutely no buffer time in which a parking attendant is willing to wait to ensure that no one returns to a car a few minutes late.... now IMO that is taking the preverbal somewhat!!!

 

[st4]

I don't think 20p/hr is reasonable. Why should you pay to stop your car and park it in town....

 

[chriswt]

I don't think 20p/hr is reasonable. Why should you pay to stop your car and park it in town....

because not everyone is considerate and there are plenty of people who would happily abuse free parking in town making it very difficult for others to use a towns facilities.

Anyway 20p/hr is for my residentual street which together with a resident parking scheme keeps the roads clear of cars and stops people parking right outside your house. Why should I lose my right to park outside my own house because someone doesn't want to walk into town or pay to park at the tube station?

I have no problem what so ever with paying a fair and reasonable few to park in town of where a fee based system is justified. What I don't like is unreasonable fees and no harsh inforcement.

 

[st4]

You don't own the land in which you park your car so someone has just as much right to park there as you.

You should be able to buy parking spaces from the coucil, and have a bollard on your space so that no one can park there when you are away.

This would be a fairer system IMO.

 

[glojo]

It was the response of the Police that got me, especially compared to their response about the vandalised cars. They seemed much more fired up about the £2k damage to council property than the £250k damage to the cars down in London that got vandalised.

An excellent very valid point which will fall on deaf ears.

Also agree about defective meters, it seems wrong to block off the bay if the meter is out of commission, but I suppose the other side of the argument would be that it might encourage folks to vandalise the meter to avoid paying the fee.

John

 

[st4]

, but I suppose the other side of the argument would be that it might encourage folks to vandalise the meter to avoid paying the fee.

John

I can see your reasoning there, but by and large motorists are a fairly law abiding group, so I don't see it as a regular occurance. That would involve the motoring public to show a bit of backbone...

More than likely, but I am not certain, that the parking meters weren't vandalised in an act of protest by motorisits, but probably by drunken 14-18 year olds.

 

[chriswt]

You don't own the land in which you park your car so someone has just as much right to park there as you.

You should be able to buy parking spaces from the coucil, and have a bollard on your space so that no one can park there when you are away.

This would be a fairer system IMO.

I have a residents permit and I don't mind other residents parking there becuse we all play musical chairs with the spaces anyway.

It used to be a massive problem before the parking control was put in place because commuters would park in the street and no residents could park outside their houses.

When you have shopping to unload, children and babies to deal with or you are elderly/not as fit as you used to be, having to park half a mile from your house isn't much fun.

I can't believe I'm having to justify this

 

[st4]

True, thats why you should have the option to buy a space near your house.