~ ~ One of the “mad cabbie’s” favourite spots on the planet is Tuscany in Italy, where many a blissful family holiday has been spent
What has this to do with parking fines and clamping, you may well ask? Well, let me explain.
~ ~ In most of the Tuscan towns and cities, ... Read review
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...has this to do with parking fines and clamping, you may well ask? Well, let me explain.
~ ~ In most of the Tuscan towns and cities, such as Sienna, Florence, Pisa, etc, there is a blanket ban on motor vehicles within a designated radius of their city centres. Granted, this is not so much a response to traffic and parking problems as it is to their ancient buildings quite literally crumbling before their eyes due to pollution from ... ...means of signposts to designated parking zones on the perimeter of the centre. Here you can either leave your car at no charge, or for a very nominal fee, and take your choice of bus, taxi, or “shank’s pony” to get into the town. Needless to say, the public transport vehicles have an exemption from the ban, as do any inner city residents, who are issued with window stickers by the authorities. And, off course, the public transport ... more
~ ~ One of the “mad cabbie’s” favourite spots on the planet is Tuscany in Italy, where many a blissful family holiday has been spent What has this to do with parking fines and clamping, you may well ask? Well, let me explain.
~ ~ In most of the Tuscan towns and cities, such as Sienna, Florence, Pisa, etc, there is a blanket ban on motor vehicles within a designated radius of their city centres. Granted, this is not so much a response to traffic and parking problems as it is to their ancient buildings quite literally crumbling before their eyes due to pollution from the cars. But the effect is the same, A pleasant, carefree atmosphere surrounds residents and visitors alike, and you are free to enjoy the scenery, the shops, the roadside cafes, and so on, without the constant roar of traffic and smell of exhaust fumes impinging upon your pleasure. This system works well. When you drive into these cities, you are directed by means of signposts to designated parking zones on the perimeter of the centre. Here you can either leave your car at no charge, or for a very nominal fee, and take your choice of bus, taxi, or “shank’s pony” to get into the town. Needless to say, the public transport vehicles have an exemption from the ban, as do any inner city residents, who are issued with window stickers by the authorities. And, off course, the public transport is plentiful and frequent, so you have no long delays for people going about their daily business. Lorries and delivery vehicles are only permitted access at certain times, usually very early in the morning, before the city gets busy.
~ ~ This may seem a completely “over- the- top” solution to our problems here in the UK and Ireland, but let’s give it a little closer scrutiny. As all of my regular readers are aware, I am a taxi-driver here in Dublin, Ireland. Dublin is a thousand year old city, with the roads and infrastructure to match, trying unsuccessfully to cope with 21st Century traffic. Add to this the unprecedented economic boom which has been taking place here for the past decade or so, and you have a disaster scenario. In a city of only 1.5 million residents, there were over 100,000 new vehicles registered in both 2000 and 2001. Now complete the picture with a public transport system that is inadequate for even the 1960’s, and you are now fast approaching a “total gridlock” situation on a daily basis. In fairness to the politicians, I believe they are aware of the situation, and are trying as best they can to take steps to put it right. Quality Bus Corridors (we taxi-drivers call them Quebecs) are being introduced on a phased basis to try to encourage the travelling public to move around by public transport, and massive undertakings are in hand in regard to that same public transport system, with more buses, taxis, a light rail (tram) system due to go onstream next year, and plans for a new Metro (underground) to being built.
~ ~ And yes, the Government have “got tough” in regards to illegal parking in the last while. We got our first clampers here in Dublin two years ago, with a set fine of £65 to get them removed. And a “zero tolerance” policy was instigated towards illegal parking, with tickets being issued left, right and centre. This has been partly successful, and I must state that I am behind this policy a hundred per cent, as there is no question that it has been instrumental in easing the congestion. Even when it was my own wife who was clamped recently on a Saturday morning visit to the doctor! Let’s be honest. 99% of the time we KNOW when we are parking illegally, and so therefore shouldn’t whinge and moan when we get rumbled by the wardens or the clampers. Although it has to be said that some of them do seem to take an unhealthy delight in being as deliberately awkward and unpleasant as possible. Incidentally, our clampers here in Dublin don’t work on a “commission” basis, but are paid a set fee by the Dublin Corporation on a yearly basis, to ensure that an even handed approach is taken to all motorists.
~ ~ But at the same time as this is being done, we continue to build inner city car parks that only encourage even MORE motorists to venture into the city centres. It hardly seems logical, does it, if our politicians are really serious about solving the traffic congestion problem? I honestly believe that all these “solutions” are only temporary at best, and that long term we will have to follow the example of Italy and some other European countries, and totally ban private cars from our inner cities. This is the only solution that really makes sense, and the sooner our politicians realise this and start working and planning towards that ultimate goal the better.
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PS None of the "comment" boxes at the end here make any sense, so ignore them.
Advantages: looses you nothing, you may get your money back Disadvantages: takes time and thought
...the idea of paying for parking when I knew it was going to cost us over £10 for our swim (and that is with a child under two who is free). My husband got out of the car and went to buy the parking ticket. He returned a couple of minutes later clutching a ticket with a bemused look on his face. The parking charges were £1 an hour and realising that we would need about two hours for our swim, my husband had put £2 into the machine. The machine had ... ...similar situation (not just a parking fine) is to do the same. If you are up to writing opinions on this site, you are capable of standing up for your rights on paper. I have written letters such as this on numerous occasions over the past year and, and so far, each one has had a positive result. At the very least, writing a letter will help you get it out of your system and you never know, you too could be in for a nice surprise. ...
jpass 04.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Parking Fines and Clamping
Advantages: none Disadvantages: extortionate fines
I understand that parking restrictions and fines need to be in place, especially in city centres, as it would cause chaos on the roads. However, I do feel that I must vent some of my anger on the way my Local Authority in Bristol works in terms of parking.
The charges for parking are astronomically expensive if you wish to park in the centre of Bristol. I often see traffic wardens hunting around in 'packs', prowling by cars on parking meters so ... ...as the majority of the parking meters charge up until midnight. I hate them, they are the dregs of society.
They purposely print tickets that you must display on your car dashboard that dont have any adhesive sticking on them so when you carefully place the ticket on your dashboard and shut the car door, the draught may blow the ticket into the footwell. I was given a parking ticket in Bristol because I displayed my ticket in 'so it was unreadable ...
neiltom88 21.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Parking Fines and Clamping
Advantages: Park sensibly to avoid a parking ticket... Disadvantages: ...and be nice to your local parking enforcement official
...drive in London. Furthermore, specific parking regulations and methods of enforcement vary from area to area. The pointers I'm about to give are particularly relevant to parts of West London - however, the basic guidelines should follow. I know a TRAFFIC WARDEN (well, he's actually called a 'parking attendant', and I'm actually married to him) (cue dramatic, dark music here) (Americans, read Parking Enforcement Officer). I therefore know something ... ...BE QUICK: For many minor parking offences (that's when you're not causing an obstruction, when you're not parked on a zebra crossing, when you're not parked in a red route etc), a traffic warden has to observe your car for five minutes before he (or she) can issue a ticket. In some Pay and Display car parks, you have a 'grace period' of around 10 minutes - but I wouldn't count on this unless you have to. 2. LOADING AND UNLOADING - some single (and ...
mattygroves 16.07.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Parking Fines and Clamping
Advantages: None Disadvantages: Danger to other road users
...of whinging about the whole parking fine issue these days. True, parking in towns and cities can be a nightmare, but forward planning can make all the difference. If you know that parking is going to be a problem, why don't you consider going early in the morning or last thing in the day, when the cities will be quieter. Have you considered using public transport at all???
The opinion seems to be that parking fines are unjustified. I reckon that ... ...That doesn't make any difference. Parking restrictions are in place to keep the roads clear of obstructions to ease congestion and also to ensure unrestricted passage for emergency vehicles. Next time you park on a corner or on a double yellow line, consider how a fire engine might struggle if it had to come through. Consider whose lives you're putting at risk. Modern motoring could be made so much safer and more pleasurable if the motorist would ...
theforce 17.08.2000
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Review of Parking Fines and Clamping
Advantages: GET YOUR OWN BACK Disadvantages: YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE
Parking wardens, you either love them or hate them and i hate them.
I live in central london and my local council has decided to contract out there parking services to NCP a private company, since that time they have been swarming local streets in clamp van's and tow away trucks.
I myself was almost targeted by these council approved cowboys. One morning a was just about to walk outside my door to go to work when i heard the sounds of a truck and ... ...have decided to appeal any parking ticket that i get and urge anyone else to do the same, If we snow them under with letters of appeal then thats one up for the poor driver.
Did you know that if a yellow line does not have a T bar at the end of it, or when it changes from a single to a double then the whole line is illegal.
Also if the line is broken or faded then they are also illegal (if you have a photo phone its good to take pictures for later ...
joe1979 15.02.2004 (15.03.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Parking Fines and Clamping
