In a quick summary of other news from around the parking and traffic world this week, the press is once again taking aim at airports, this time comparing the cost of parking a car to the cost of parking a plane. The article compares the base rates for parking against each other (finding that it is indeed cheaper to park a plane in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin), but it does so without taking into account the other fees that the planes attract, including landing fees, aviation fees, runway charges and more. It is therefore a misleading and unreliable representation of the actual situation meant to create uncertainty in customers’ minds.
In Brisbane, another Westfield centre is looking to implement paid parking. Westfield Carindale will commence charging customers from July 15, with the parking structure to offer free parking to shoppers for the first three hours. According to Fairfax Media, staff who work at shops in the centre will receive either a swipe card with a sum of money stored on it or be required to pay a flat rate of $3 per shift. The centre currently has 5,922 car spaces, of which 1,000 have been set aside for the centre’s staff, across four car parks.
Meanwhile, councillors in the Gold Coast are considering introducing free parking on vacant land, and registration for cyclists. According to GoldCoast.com.au, a report presented to the council by the Independent Drivers Association has recommended that cyclists choosing to ride on the road be charged an annual registration fee of between $5 and $20, with other key bicycle lanes being re-routed away from main roads.
Australian insurer Allianz has recently announced that Subaru models which carry the EyeSight driver assist system will receive a 20 per cent premium reduction on Comprehensive Motor Insurance. According to The AutoChannel, the EyeSight system, a standard feature on 2012 Liberty and Outback models, uses minute stereo cameras located in a single compact unit near the rear view mirror to recognise a variety of road hazards and alert the driver. The system features a range of functions, including pre-collision braking, throttle management, lane departure warnings, and adaptive cruise control, which maintains a safe distance from the car in front, irrespective of the varying speed of the vehicle.