"Local bike paths mean higher house prices"

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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on May 3, 2011 at 1:50pm

Naturally, because when the slathering monsters get out of their cars, within a short time they become normal humans again ;-) It's a normal "Jeckyl and Hyde" response.

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Permalink Reply by Etienne de Brignell on May 3, 2011 at 4:45pm

It's great that the article challenges the oft-repeated assertion that businesses would lose out as a result of less car parking facilities in favour of bicycles, but the heading of the article bothers me. Bike usage is an extremely convenient and cheap means of transport for those on a lower income, however if house prices around cycleways are going to increase then that kind of defeats the purpose. I've no doubt that the area in which I live, with its excellent infrastructure, would be teeming with cyclists if all the students and starving artists hadn't been forced out courtesy of astronomical renting prices.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on May 4, 2011 at 9:08am

"Bike usage is an extremely convenient and cheap means of transport for those on a lower income..."

 

For everybody, Etienne, yes the poor benefit the most financially from cycling, but the bicycle is a solution for almost every modern problem, regardless of income of social status. Also, in Australia, the trend is for cyclists to be affluent. The poor tend to get sucked in by the car as an indicator of status.

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Permalink Reply by Geoff Rehmet on May 4, 2011 at 12:02pm

I believe it is a fallacy that customers will go elsewhere where they can more readily park their cars when parking bays are removed. - I occasionally collect items for my wife's business in Collingwood.  The reason I do it is so that we can avoid using a car to get to Collingwood, as it is practical for me to go by tram on my way home from work.  Neither of us wants to take a car anywhere near Collingwood, as it is just too painful getting there by car in the first place.  No changes to parking will change the fact that the businesses we need to visit are in Collingwood.  Long may they stay in the area near Smith street and in reach of the #86 tram!  ... Now if we could get rid of all the parked cars off the tram route, the trams would run on time!

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on May 5, 2011 at 8:48am

I agree. There is almost "too much" research on how providing car parking causes congestion as motorists circle like sharks, hunting for that one remaining spot. (Or block a street waiting while somebody else leaves.) Provide bicycle parking and the congestion will disappear as more people realise cycling or walking to their local shops is a better deal.

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Permalink Reply by Cory on May 4, 2011 at 1:56pm

It certainly doesn't seem to work for those on Lygon street ;)

 

My 2c.  For Brunswick St (and other similar ones) where it isn't residential parking, take the first (and poss 2nd) car park of every side street, and put in some bike parking.  It'd sure make a difference in Fitzroy.

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