So city planners make more sections of streets in downtown Halifax one-way, so traffic flows more smoothly… in theory. Yet with years of observations to draw on from Hollis Street, say, where two theoretical lanes are often just one, nobody has the balls to disallow parking on Water Street? Just a couple of months of evening rush hour, with the latest system, make it abundantly clear that for almost all of Water Street there is only ONE lane of traffic, and that’s entirely because of people parked on the west side of that street, for the entire working day, pretty much for the whole length of it.
So what improved exactly? Try precisely nothing. Maybe it’s just me, but do the city staffers who propose these changes actually follow up to see what happens? I knew we were in some trouble, but if this is the calibre of our paid help, well… —What Was the Point?
This article appears in Dec 22-28, 2011.
That isn’t the only place they should stop people parking, how about Quinpool. It is so mindless how they keep talking about widening roads when they could just take the parked cars off them and they would be wide enough.
If you noticed the times of parking on the signs, they read no parking from 4-6pm mon to fri, to remedy rush hour congestion. Just because people can’t obey the rules doesn’t mean the system doesn’t work. I happen to think that the new water street one way works much better, a lot easier than having to get in line just off or on terminal rd, and schlub your way at snail speed all they way to the Cogswell interchange. Good job HRM planning, you finally got something right!!!
I’m sure all the buisness owners on Quinpool would love it if no parking was allowed. Usually those no parking signs from 7AM to 9AM and 4PM to 6PM work, but once in a while there will be one dipshit parked who ruins it for everyone.
the point o.p., was to play games with you. the planners did that, just to fuck up your day. everyone else in halisux, knows how to drive on one or two way streets. and also know that when wintertime comes, so do parking bans. but just for you, on your street this year, they are letting anyone, who wants to, park on your street, and no, it won’t be cleared til april. if they get around t doing it. your neighbors can thank you, after the first heavy snow, and can’t get out of their driveways.
as someone who only navigates downtown via car in evenings…
I like the changes.
I doubt I’d say the same if I had to navigate it to get to and from work though.
I’m with y’all on quinpool too… I hate it when people part on the street there…
and same with bayers.
well, OP, i don’t understand your reasoning.
. if it is that tight as a one way road, how would traffic in both directions make it any better?
As one of the people who parks on Lower Water St during my work day (and yes, I come and move my vehicle every 2 hours faithfully – and it is gone before 3:30pm rush traffic) I am really grateful for the 2 hour free parking that has arrived with the one-way street change. I make just over minimum wage, and I have a student loan – yet I require my vehicle for my job so taking the bus is not an option. My employer doesn’t even have parking for herself (a downtown pass is at least $200/mth if you can even get one). I could easily spend $100 a week on parking downtown if it wasn’t for these new lovely spots on lower water.
I always make sure my car is gone before the major rush at 4pm however, because it’s almost impossible to move out of a spot after that time!
People get towed pretty quick between 4-6, OP… doubt it’s an issue most other times of the day.