2-wheel takeover Author: By MARIO CHRISTODOLOU Date: 24/08/2007 Publication: Illawarra Mercury
CAR parking spaces are rapidly being transformed into motorcycle spots under a city-wide council initiative in Wollongong.
There has been a tenfold increase in the number of motorcycle spots since 2001, with car spaces being increasingly repainted and rebranded.
By the end of the year the number of bike spots will have grown to 20, from two in 2001.
So far eight car spaces have been transformed, with a further four to five to be converted next week.
The increase has been welcomed by motorcyclists, but leaves many car users without parking spaces in popular areas.
Four of the spaces being converted are in Crown St, five in Burelli St and three in Keira St.
Wollongong City Council has long acknowledged that a parking problem exists in the city.
In April it proposed to convert five CBD sites into multi-level parking stations to create 6000 new car spaces.
Labor councillor and motorcycle rider Tony Kent said the council had been slow to provide spaces and should promote the use of motorcycles.
"We should be trying to encourage people to use motorcycles like they do in Sydney," Cr Kent argued.
Trevor Jordan of Trevor Jordan Motorcycles said Wollongong had long suffered from a shortage of motorcycle spots and new spaces would be welcome.
"I suppose with motorcycles you can squeeze in between cars, but a lot of people just park wherever they can," Mr Jordan said.
He said having more parking spots would encourage people to buy scooters, which were more fuel-efficient than motorcycles and cheaper to buy.
"I think if they put more parking spots in and promoted it, people would tend to think of going that way," he said.