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Why have reverse parking for Xmas?
WITH regards to Christmas parking on Douglas promendes, this extra parking is a real benefit but why reverse parking?
Without ‘guide lines’, early arrivals will always park where there is a lot of space available and each one that follows does the same, often at ‘odd’ angles.
Invariably this results in large gaps between cars and it becomes increasingly frustrating to later arrivals to see gaps which are just too narrow to be used.
In addition, when arriving to park, it is much more time-consuming as each driver, having waited for someone else to drive out, has to pull forward in order to reverse into the vacated space.
They are ‘tailed’ by the next car in the queue, often causing driver friction, as that person may not always spot what is happening and drive up too close for the first car to carry on reversing – this happens regularly.
A further aggravation is that the ‘reverse parking only’ signs are very small and mounted above a line of sight on well spaced lamp posts. It is no surprise that many parkers miss them and, sensibly, drive forward into narrow and other-wise un-useable spaces.
The traffic warden, as a gesture of seasonal goodwill, then arrives to award a statuary fine.
So, to improve this poor procedure, could the authorities:- Make the warning signs larger and provide more of them, and, paint white guide lines on the concrete.
Or much better still, examine the following suggestion, change the signs to read: Forward facing parking only.
No ‘painted guide lines would be necessary but, for the first few hours, or, until all spaces are occupied, the now disengaged traffic wardens could ensure spots are filled first at either side of exits to the pedestrian crossing points and then guide following drivers to park up ‘close up’.
This would deter the odd few who would otherwise still park well away from earlier arrivals.
In this way, from the earliest to the latest arrivals, parking space would be maximised, with cars parked at the correct spacing. Space between cars being more easily judged.
New arrivals would easily see others preparing to leave (reversing lights come on) and would come to a halt – cars are only moving at crawling pace at this stage.
They would automatically leave enough distance for the ‘departee’ to reverse out, easily and quickly.
Following vehicles in the queue would automatically stop – they would see the braking lights.
The arrival would then move in quickly – with or without guide lines.
The following drivers would be more willing to wait patiently until s/he could proceed, happy to wait their own opportunity.
All leading to a quick, courteous parking and better use of space.
Sadly, the only loser would be Isle of Man Government, no statutory fines imposed.
There is an old saying ‘Men are prone to go it blind along the Calf Paths of the mind’ meaning men carry on the same old way without looking for improvements. Is the present way Douglas’ Calf Path?
T. SIMPSON
Ramsey.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
