News / Transport
‘Residents’ Parking Zones have simply failed to deliver’
Residents’ Parking Zones “are a failed attempt at managing our city’s limited parking space (and) outdated for tackling modern day challenges”.
Ahead of a paper being brought to Tuesday’s cabinet meeting that includes proposals to increase the cost of a first permit from £56 to £178 and remove third vehicle permits, cabinet member for transport, Don Alexander, has laid out his views on Bristol’s RPZ scheme.
Alexander said that the current administration inherited a “flawed system” from previous mayor, George Ferguson, adding that “RPZs are not the future and it’s time to have the mature conversation that some politicians are failing to join”.
is needed now More than ever
Writing on Marvin Rees’ mayoral blog, Alexander said: “Launched with a promise to reduce car journeys and limit commuter parking, (RPZs’) real world impact has been to provide opportunities for shorter car journeys within the zones, promoting bad behaviours among people already benefiting from city centre spaces, while reducing the general availability of parking for all road users, blocking cycle parking opportunities.
“Given the data, it is strange to see Green Party councillors and self-appointed environmental leaders calling for an increase to RPZs. We must be led by the evidence.
“What Bristolians really need and deserve is a fully segregated mass transit, separate from other modes of transport to ensure its reliability.
“Connecting people to jobs and opportunity, will transform our transport network and reduce commuter congestion.
“To prevent crippling road closures that would take our city’s transport system back to square one, we must include underground sections where there is no reasonable other option.
“RPZs are not the future and it’s time to have the mature conversation that some politicians are failing to join.
“We need an honest assessment of how we share space and stop discriminating over road space.”
Don Alexander’s favourite bus is the Portway park & ride – photo: Martin Booth.
Rees said that RPZs “have failed to deliver what they promised for over a decade” and that the cabinet paper “aims to deliver a fairer system while building to the modern transport system that Bristol needs”.
But transport data and policy analyst Adam Reynolds tweeted about “the utter stupidity” of Alexander’s analysis.
He wrote: “Article has no basis in reality and demonstrates a cabinet member who has absolutely no handle on his brief.
“It’s clear this is blatant and embarrassing electioneering with no basis in data. Embarrassingly poor and shameful.”
Green Party co-shadow member for transport, Emma Edwards, said: “The stubborn refusal to expand RPZs makes no sense, as people just park cars in neighbouring areas or use RPZ-free residential areas as free ‘park and rides’.
“Door knocking this evening and this was brought up so many times. Residential streets being used as free car parks.”
Green Party councillor for Clifton Down ward, Tom Hathway, added: “Bristol Labour’s hatred of controlled parking is crackers – failing to review costs over 8 years and then just tripling fees is vindictive, and removing the discount for cleaner vehicles a backwards step.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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