As residents and frequent occupiers are well aware, parking in the CBD and inner city areas continue to become trickier and more costly as each year rolls on.

Recently the Deputy Mayor of Brisbane, Adrian Schrinner, headed up a six month investigation into parking issues across the city.  The findings are set to result in a myriad of changes that while not ‘fixing’ all the issues as such, will definitely make inner city living and commuting a lot easier as we move into 2015 and beyond.

"This is the most comprehensive review of on-street parking that the city has ever had," Cr Schrinner said.

Cr Schrinner delivered the long-awaited findings at City Hall on Monday and the recommendations have been met with mixed reactions from residents and the media.  Many of the changes are due to be implemented in the next 3 – 12 months and include the below:

Free 15 minute car parking in inner-city suburbs around the CBD

The introduction of free short term parking (up to 15 minutes) at over 7,700 parking metres across the inner city (not including the CBD area at this stage).

Cycling clear ways during peak hour

More roads throughouht the inner city areas will be marked as ‘clearways’ during peak hour periods with no parking, this will help make it safer for cyclists and everyone travelling on our busy roads.

Disability access

People with disabilities and their carers will now have licence to park in loading zones for five minutes, instead of two minutes, to park and leave.

Cap the number of paid on-street parking spaces within metered areas

In an effort to promote ‘off-road’ discounted off-peak parking rates the number of on-street metred car parks in the CBD is set to be capped.  To put the numbers in persective, back in the 1940’s there were 5,000 on-street parking spaces in the CBD making up over 60% of the total city car parks –today there are under 600.  Off road car parks now number more than 30,000 in the city which continues to grow on a regular basis.

Caps on the Residential Parking Permit Scheme

One of the more controversial recommendations to have come from the investigation is the capping of Residential Parking Permits.

Currently there is an uncapped number of resident parking permits that residents can apply for including up to two restricted visitor permits.  The permits cost $10 each and currently more than 98 per cent of homes in the area have 1 – 2 permits.

While this will remain the same in some areas, in locations where metered parking is introduced the number of residential parking permits will be capped at one and the resident can also apply for one visitor parking permit.

Remove confusing parking signs

One of the other key recommendations is to remove the confusing parking signs with alternatives that "show" over a 7am to 7pm time frame which have garnered many complaints from locals over the years.  The proposed updated signs will be designed to make the information more easily available to decrease the number of people being ‘caught out’ by not understanding what the overly complicated signage means.  They are set to be progressively replaced over the coming 12 months.
 
What do you think of the proposed new changes?  Will they affect you and your family?  Comment below with your thoughts.