CLIMATE CHANGE

In Todd Niall’s opinion piece ‘‘Park the frenzy’’, I see ‘‘unintended consequences’’ abounding, to deny the council’s intended climate-change goals.

The Auckland Parking Strategy, which he details, is (most laudably) hell-bent on reducing carbon emissions in its fight against climate change. In doing so, it wants to reduce vehicle use dramatically throughout the city, and encouraging use of public transport alternatives to get around.

One way is by reducing kerbside parking availability, so fewer people will be able to freely use cars. But what if those cars are EVs – electric vehicles? Few in number at present, but being heavily subsidised by the Government to encourage faster take-up, they will ultimately reduce the emissions problem, as they become more predominant on our roads.

Where are they going to park? Their owners’ penalised equally, even though they’re doing the right thing. This is ‘‘Unintended Consequence’’ number one.

‘‘Unintended consequence’’ number two will be charging for park-and-ride parking – not a new idea, but not a good one either. ‘‘You want me to keep on using public transport to commute each day? So don’t penalise me – incentivise me!’’ Free parking did that. How about free park-and-ride parking if you’re driving an EV? Better still, how about free public transport everywhere – for everyone?

Thinking ahead, clearly and intelligently, will produce significantly more tangible results faster. However, this kind of thinking is all too often sadly lacking within our bureaucracy, both local and nationwide. As evidenced by these latest Auckland Transport decisions – guaranteed to eventually result in failure of intent, through these ‘‘Unintended Consequences’’. Which should be obvious to them right now.

Clyde Scott, Birkenhead