Confusion over parking sign next to cycleway

ON December 14, during a family visit to Dunedin, I parked my elderly mother’s car outside the ReStore op shop so that she could do some shopping. There were no other cars where I had parked, and I was pleased that she did not have too far to walk. I parked directly underneath a sign that said, ‘‘P30 in this area’’. I was surprised to find a ticket on her car when we returned, because we had been there for less than 30 minutes, and even more surprised to find that I had been parked illegally.

I have been charged by the Dunedin City Council for parking on a cycle lane. I certainly had no intention of parking illegally and obstructing a cycle lane, so I checked again: the sign unambiguously states ‘‘P30 IN THIS AREA’’. Nowhere else in Aotearoa New Zealand have I encountered such misleading and contradictory instructions. Clearly some thought and urgent action needs to be put in place to clarify your road rules and protect other hapless visitors to your beautiful city.

Come on, Dunedin, you can do better! Jill Hatherly

Bay of Islands

[Dunedin City Council compliance, animal and parking services team leader Peter Hanlin replies:

‘‘The cycle path in Gordon St, outside ReStore, is raised from the road and is clearly marked and painted, with green paint, arrows and cycle images.

There is onstreet parking next to the cycle lane. This is also clearly marked and is the area the P30 sign applies to.

We would encourage anyone with a parking dispute to contact us with

their concerns directly.’’]