Charging for Parking?

dueyfinster

I don't know about anyone else, but I was dismayed to receive the email from ITB staffer who shall remain nameless, but they basically said:

In order to get planning permission for more car parking spaces, the college needs to use less.

I can't make sense of it, if someone can help me?

KonFusion

dueyfinster wrote: »

I don't know about anyone else, but I was dismayed to receive the email from ITB staffer who shall remain nameless, but they basically said:

In order to get planning permission for more car parking spaces, the college needs to use less.

I can't make sense of it, if someone can help me?

That seemed to be pretty much the gist of it alright. Didn't make much sense to me either.

Here's a link to DCU's parking info for any wanting to compare out of curiosity. Judging from the NCPS website it seems UCD, IADT and probably more importantly for us (since they're closer in size to us AFAIK) ITT and DKIT have paid parking.

Well looks like I'll be cycling again (or just park in a spot where there is no parking space nor any double yellow lines within 5 mins walk of college )

I think that if they do introduce paid parking, it will take a while to implement and I'll be gone out of here so I don't really mind, however for people who live far from the college then it will do serious damage to the pocket especially with the price of petrol.

dueyfinster

KonFusion wrote: »

That seemed to be pretty much the gist of it alright. Didn't make much sense to me either.

Here's a link to DCU's parking info for any wanting to compare out of curiosity. Judging from the NCPS website it seems UCD, IADT and probably more importantly for us (since they're closer in size to us AFAIK) ITT and DKIT have paid parking.

Thanks Kon for info, interesting. All the rest have a lot better transport links than ITB. ITT has Luas and the rest have dedicated bus services from major train stations (like DCU from Drumcondra etc.

ITB is still a greenfield site in the middle of nowhere, which Fingal CoCo are directly responsible for. Kicking the football 10 years down the road when parking is required and being fussy for planning permission is all FCoCo's fault. At at the when thy demand a rise in student numbers!! None of the rest of the colleges faik have the option with much land around them.

I tried commuting from Leixlip which was train to castleknock and bus to Corduff. Dublin bus have such a sh***y service it wasn't feasible, I was either an hour early for class (which doesn't bother me) or an hour late depending on their whims.

brendanL

I can only see two out comes.

One, they put in the fees, more then likely pressure on bus service goes out the window and more service's are put on route to the college eventually, and I can't stress enough how long that might be just plain awful until more bus service's are added.

Two, they don't put the parking fees in but for those that use the bus atm, their service stays as f****** useless for a little longer then option 1. But numbers attending the college is pretty much an up hill spiral at the moment, which I'm assuming is going to continue, in whice case, the car park, which can't be expanded will become stuffed, so people start to use the bus and slowly but surely it is upgraded to the extent of choice 1, and we still have some free parking.

... to be honest... I forsee parking fees... think of the clamping, no amount of complaints stop these things in itb, they just do what they think is for the best.

I know a proper car park needs planning permisson and that the college needs that kind... but what about just using a **** load of compacted gravel????
people park on it, and college can use that as ammo when they apply for actual permission for a real carpark.
Maybe the college could just be smarter about how they expand things.

donfarrell

Ye itb must be the worst college to get to, I used to get the bus up and back but then then they cut a load of 38's and 38a's that i was waiting 2 hours for a bus home.
The train is more reliable but it takes forever to walk from castleknock station, they need like a free shuttle buss going from the shopping center to blanch village then to the college for free :L

donfarrell

donfarrell wrote: »

The train is more reliable but it takes forever to walk from castleknock station, they need like a free shuttle buss going from the shopping center to blanch village then to the college for free :L

Not gonna happen free haha.

But if they got a bus to run every half hour between times like 8-11 and 1-4, for €1 between centre and college, I reckon they would make a profit...(or at least just break even)

vinnyirl

They don't need to change for car parking they just default to that way of thinking because they don't want to try anything new. They are having a meeting next Wednesday to discuss the possibilities but paid parking should not be one of possibilities.

I think they should bring in parking permits and charge €5 to cover the cost of the permits. Don't allow anyone who lives within walking distance of the college to get a permit (walking distance is 2km = 40min) with the obvious exception of anybody with a disability.

Anyone who registers on the ITB car sharing website would get a different colour permit allowing them to park in reserved spaced which would be allocated just for the car shares.

Block G Raptor

vinnyirl wrote: »

They don't need to change for car parking they just default to that way of thinking because they don't want to try anything new. They are having a meeting next Wednesday to discuss the possibilities but paid parking should not be one of possibilities.

I think they should bring in parking permits and charge €5 to cover the cost of the permits. Don't allow anyone who lives within walking distance of the college to get a permit (walking distance is 2km = 40min) with the obvious exception of anybody with a disability.

Anyone who registers on the ITB car sharing website would get a different colour permit allowing them to park in reserved spaced which would be allocated just for the car shares.

There is no way they'd even think about implementing that... Why? because it makes sense thats why it'll never happen

dueyfinster

Just wondered did anyone go to the meeting? I couldn't attend, I wanted too though :cool:

Has anyone every been clamped in ITB?

Just for future reference, if your clamped, it is against the law what the clampers have done...

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1961/en/act/pub/0024/print.html#sec113

A person shall not, without lawful authority or reasonable cause, interfere or attempt to interfere with the mechanism of a mechanically propelled vehicle while it is stationary in a public place, or get on or into or attempt to get on or into the vehicle while it is so stationary.

KonFusion

without lawful authority or reasonable cause

I believe they have one if not both of these.

Nope I don't think they have neither.

As for "lawful authority", they is not law which legalizes clamping/supports the clampers. Therefore they have no lawful authority. I think lawful authority applies to Garda.

As for "reasonable cause", who decides that? Lets say I'm clamped for parking wrongly. When the van stops to clamp me, I can clamp him as I have reasonable cause. That bascially means anyone can be clamped anywhere because the clampers are deciding the "reasonable cause".

Take the WIT case in 2007.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=55163862&postcount=7

Judge ruled clamping illegal at WIT 18/1/2007
Judge William Harnett ruled at Waterford district court last week that WIT has no authority to clamp the Vehicles of people who park illegally at its cork road campus.

The case originated when a clamp was removed from a car by its owner on January 5th last year. The judge ruled that the owner was entitled to remove something that was stuck to his car by whatever means and if it damages his car, he was entitled to claim damages.

While there where notices up in the car park informing motorists that clamping was in operation, Judge Harnett ruled that there were no laws to support that notice before dismissing the case.

WITSU expects that WIT will seek legal clarification on this matter and that clamping will continue for now. WITSU welcomes the ruling that clamping is illegal, however does not encourage motorists to park in dangerous or unhelpful positions.

If I get clamped next year, the clamp with either be getting cut off, or superglue poured into the lock!

However, clamping by Dublin City Council is legal as they passed a by-law to allow it (or something like that).

KonFusion

Hmmm interesting find.

Go for it!! I'm all against the clamping.

brendanL

Deleted User wrote: »

Nope I don't think they have neither.

As for "lawful authority", they is not law which legalizes clamping/supports the clampers. Therefore they have no lawful authority. I think lawful authority applies to Garda.

As for "reasonable cause", who decides that? Lets say I'm clamped for parking wrongly. When the van stops to clamp me, I can clamp him as I have reasonable cause. That bascially means anyone can be clamped anywhere because the clampers are deciding the "reasonable cause".

Take the WIT case in 2007.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=55163862&postcount=7


If I get clamped next year, the clamp with either be getting cut off, or superglue poured into the lock!

However, clamping by Dublin City Council is legal as they passed a by-law to allow it (or something like that).

I remember reading that awhile back. The problem there is, all they had was signs up, no actual documentation created by the college to back it up. I'm pretty sure all those emails from itb are considered legally binding regardless of whether any of us read them.. we still 'received' them.

I agree that some people are going to get done while others such as mechatronics/apprentices carry their toolbox's with hacksaws and the like around, making it a bit laughable that they could be clamped.

I believe the clamping will only be for bad parking??? So in that case they do have justifiable cause.. as the college have created all their nice documentation that they emailed around to us all outlining the new clamping and what kind of parking will get you clamped.
So were informed in their eyes.

I think you can argue all you want.. but honestly... when you come out of college after a hard days whatever.. the last thing I'd want to have to do is start quoting motor laws to some guy who just clamped my car in an attempt to get it removed.. He'd more then likely laugh you off and say yeah whatever.. you still have to get home tonight XD..

Block G Raptor

Deleted User wrote: »

If I get clamped next year, the clamp with either be getting cut off, or superglue poured into the lock!

Thats construed as criminal damage apparently, However if ya can remove the clamp without damaging it there is nothing they can do legally. apparently there is some way to do it that involves removing the wheel !

mickus40

I got clamped there on Wednesday morning. My exam was in the afternoon and I came in early to study in the library. There was NO parking available. I drove around twice looking for one. There were cars parked up on the grass but no parking spaces anywhere. I parked in a spot that was unobstructed, plenty of room to get past, granted it was on double yellow lines. You know the road up behind the car park, runs parallel with it. I went in to study and came out at 11am to find my car clamped. Cost me 80 euro to get it off. Pissed me off because there really was no where else to park. What about all the cars up on the grass, why were they not clamped? Anyway paid it reluctantly. Bloody 80 euro. broke my heart! I think they could have a policy during exam times not to clamp. Theres so many people coming in during this time its always hard to get a space.

Block G Raptor

Block G Raptor wrote: »

Thats construed as criminal damage apparently, However if ya can remove the clamp without damaging it there is nothing they can do legally. apparently there is some way to do it that involves removing the wheel !

While yes it is criminal damage, they would have to prove it was me that cut it off. And yes you can remove it, you need some tools though.

brendanL

brendanL wrote: »

I remember reading that awhile back. The problem there is, all they had was signs up, no actual documentation created by the college to back it up. I'm pretty sure all those emails from itb are considered legally binding regardless of whether any of us read them.. we still 'received' them.

I agree that some people are going to get done while others such as mechatronics/apprentices carry their toolbox's with hacksaws and the like around, making it a bit laughable that they could be clamped.

I believe the clamping will only be for bad parking??? So in that case they do have justifiable cause.. as the college have created all their nice documentation that they emailed around to us all outlining the new clamping and what kind of parking will get you clamped.
So were informed in their eyes.

I think you can argue all you want.. but honestly... when you come out of college after a hard days whatever.. the last thing I'd want to have to do is start quoting motor laws to some guy who just clamped my car in an attempt to get it removed.. He'd more then likely laugh you off and say yeah whatever.. you still have to get home tonight XD..

Indeed, that the advantange of not living too far from college

Also a hacksaw would have no hope in getting through the clamp chain/lock (hardened steel).

I agree people should be clamped for bad parking, but what I dont understand is, how is parking on the gravel (beside first rows of spaces) bad? You don't block anyone if you park there...

They were quick introducing it!

Didn't think it would happen for a few years!

Leejo

Seriously pissed off at this, I can't afford to be spending another 50 euro on travel expenses to and from college, 3/4's of my wages go on getting me to and from college every week as it is.

What happens when you have a permit but there's no parking spaces and you can't park on the grass like normal or you'll end up getting clamped? :rolleyes:

HungryJoey

This whole parking thing is a f***ing joke. Another 50/80 euro, nice one.

KonFusion

I just can't see how they'll enforce it.

There must have been 100+ cars on the grass at times last year. I doubt they have 100 clamps.

donfarrell

KonFusion wrote: »

I just can't see how they'll enforce it.

There must have been 100+ cars on the grass at times last year. I doubt they have 100 clamps.

Was reading through this thread and said the exact same thing to my unicorn beside me :L

Anyway, if i had a car I would not pay, I'd park me car in the car park beside the centra and the school and the bus stop instead, bit of a walk but who has 50 euro to spend a space you probably wont get unless your up with the security guard at 6 a.m :L

donfarrell

donfarrell wrote: »

Was reading through this thread and said the exact same thing to my unicorn beside me :L

Anyway, if i had a car I would not pay, I'd park me car in the car park beside the centra and the school and the bus stop instead, bit of a walk but who has 50 euro to spend a space you probably wont get unless your up with the security guard at 6 a.m :L

I email the college asking what happens if I buy a permit, and don't get a parking space. If I park on grass, will I get clamped?

Still waiting for a reply...

Will let your know what they say.

I can also see apprentices just using their tools to cut clamps off...

FB5

i was talkin to the estate guys and the deal is...

They are selling more permits than spaces, the excuse is that not everyone is in on the same days of the week? (BS)

If there are no spaces available (which there won't be), you can pay 1 euro per hour or 5 euro per day for pay and display parking. This will be located on the whole row where the visitor parking used to be.

ANyone that parks along the entrance road will be clamped.

They said they hope to add a few spaces up near the link.


#moneymakingracket

KonFusion

We should all protest!!

....oh wait....never mind :P

Leejo

FB5 wrote: »

If there are no spaces available (which there won't be), you can pay 1 euro per hour or 5 euro per day for pay and display parking. This will be located on the whole row where the visitor parking used to be.

That's bollocks, so they want us to pay a lump sum for parking and then try to make us pay daily when they can't facilitate us. :rolleyes:

Does anyone know/think that the road up to the link building counts as an 'access road', meaning you can't park there either now?

TeachMealog

Part of me hates the fact i went to college in an era when driving to college was not an option.
I know post celtic tiger it has become the norm. whatever about city centre colleges, but outer city locations such as DCU, tallaght and blanch should not have charges for parking, since they soon become just a revenue stream
the car park in DCU is a disgrace and example of bad design

Leejo

Express your concerns here as well http://www.facebook.com/itbdublin/posts/240338762677066?notif_t=share_reply

brendanL

I know it says already you can't park in the P&D daily spots with just a permit.
But I can already see the P&D area being parked in by permit holders. Who then try to argue their way out of it. Causing a lot of 'heated debates' there's definitely going to be some headaches on this one. :rolleyes:

But what annoys me is that you are paying for parking, and therefore should be entitled to a space!!

If getting a permit, does that not normally mean there is a space reserved for you somewhere?

brendanL

Yeah it's just going to create aggression/problems. I know it'd be a ridiculously short amount of permits... but atleast you'd what your in for if you got one. This way it does cause the whole 'german's with beach towels scenario' at 8am XD.

vinnyirl

Thought I should clear a few things up on the parking stuff. The idea of paid parking pissed me off just like the rest of you, so I went to the meetings they had to discuss alternatives and guess what.....there was none.

The college applied for planning permission for extra parking spaces and was granted permission but only if they provide "incentives" to not drive to the college. unfortunately this resulted in paid parking and even more unfortunately it required us to charge an amount which would not seem too low as it would not disincentive people from driving to the college. So in short you are being charged to park at ITB to pressure you into not driving. Other options were explored in the past to get people to use public transport but none were successful

All the money collected from the permits and the hourly/day tickets minus the admin cost will be going to a shuttle bus service. This service will be subbed by the parking costs to make it a cheap alternative to get to the college, an excellent idea imo but a shame paid parking had to come in to get it. unfortunately they havent yet posted the costs of the bus which are supposed to be low or have an optional year ticket system.

During the meetings many alternatives were discussed to help solve to problem including adding temporary parking spaces on the grass, and a hell of a lot of parking spaces could have been provided but this was thrown out as the more spaces that are available the more they will get filled (backed by research from someone can't remember who)

A paring permit in most large institutions will never guarantee you a spot because this would be a waste of space and would cause more problems if it was 1 permit per space. Most people are only in college 4 days a week so if it was 1 permit per space there would be empty spaces, never mind the people who don't come in for day or weeks at a time and the half days. Would everyone really like it if there was only 700 permits and it was first come first serve?

If the students choose to strike there will be nobody to strike against as the entire college is paying for parking not just the students and nobody, including the people who brought it in wants it. Also a strike will not stop it. If all the students stand together and not park in the college you may get a response but seeing as that's the point it really will not work. Sorry that's not entirely true you could strike agains Fingal County Council for making the college enforce this and take all the blame when the blame should be squarely placed on Fingal and not ITB.

If the cost is a major issue for you there are some alternatives:
*Park at the NAC a walk over or get the new shuttle bus if you don't want to walk for 15min
*Park at the centre and walk for 30min or get the shuttle bus
*Car share, no point in two people driving separate cars if one can do it
*Buy a motorbike as these are not being charged (WHY? Because they take up 1/3 the space of a car and don't use car spaces, also more efficient)
*Start using public transport bus to the centre and shuttle to the college or train to coolmine and shuttle to the college (Both more expensive than €50 BTW)

Also you should note that you cannot park anywhere after the entrance gates or you will be clamped, if you go in a drive toward the LINC and decide to park there you could get towed by Digiweb.

vinnyirl

Wow that post ended up being very long, the one point to take from it.

It's not the colleges fault it is the fault of Fingal County Council

donfarrell

The shuttle bus is free which I think is a must if it was gonna work

Also there's no news about the cycling incentives yet : p

FenJai

Had a chat with our new SU pres the other day about the cycling incentive and it seems to be something along the lines of handing out a €100 bike voucher for the cyclists. Not bad for those of us who need a new bike but for those who already have gear sorted it leaves a little to be desired.

I would rather we receive something more constant like a free lunch once or twice a week.

brendanL

....yes and a man servent who travels around with you carrying your laptop and other essentials. Just because you got to college by 'green' methods :rolleyes:

Leejo

Cheers for the reply Vinny, it really is appreciated and clears up a lot of points. A few things though...

vinnyirl wrote: »

All the money collected from the permits and the hourly/day tickets minus the admin cost will be going to a shuttle bus service. This service will be subbed by the parking costs to make it a cheap alternative to get to the college, an excellent idea imo but a shame paid parking had to come in to get it. unfortunately they havent yet posted the costs of the bus which are supposed to be low or have an optional year ticket system.

Hourly/day tickets? I was under the impression that the shuttle bus was free for students? If it's not, then I'd see that as a further slap in the face to people who forked out €50 for it. Imo this will benefit people who already get public transport to college via the centre or people who live around that area more so than people who drive to college.

vinnyirl wrote: »

If the students choose to strike there will be nobody to strike against as the entire college is paying for parking not just the students and nobody, including the people who brought it in wants it. Also a strike will not stop it. If all the students stand together and not park in the college you may get a response but seeing as that's the point it really will not work. Sorry that's not entirely true you could strike agains Fingal County Council for making the college enforce this and take all the blame when the blame should be squarely placed on Fingal and not ITB.

What I'd like to see/suggest is all students not paying the permit and parking on the main road outside the college gates on Blanchardstown Rd N, maybe then that'll wake Fingal Co Co up as I can't see them being too happy about students parking on a busy road and slowing down/creating more traffic.

vinnyirl wrote: »

If the cost is a major issue for you there are some alternatives:
*Park at the NAC a walk over or get the new shuttle bus if you don't want to walk for 15min

Can't see the NAC being too happy about that or that lasting too long without them doing something to stop this.

vinnyirl wrote: »

*Park at the centre and walk for 30min or get the shuttle bus

That seems to be the best option for students but it's still an awful alternative, drive to the college, turn around 'cos there's no spaces, drive 10 minutes down the road, wait for the bus, 10 minutes back up the road and that's half an hour/40 minutes to get to get back college by which time you've missed your class

vinnyirl wrote: »

*Car share, no point in two people driving separate cars if one can do it

A LOT of people already do this

vinnyirl wrote: »

*Buy a motorbike as these are not being charged (WHY? Because they take up 1/3 the space of a car and don't use car spaces, also more efficient)

Are you seriously suggesting student's should buy a motorbike as a viable alternative?

vinnyirl wrote: »

*Start using public transport bus to the centre and shuttle to the college or train to coolmine and shuttle to the college (Both more expensive than €50 BTW)

This is where one of my main gripes come from, the public transport to the college is an absolute farce (Nothing to do with the college), meaning that a lot of people who aren't in the college's catchment area have no choice but to drive to college (myself included). Parking should not be charged for anyone be they, staff, students, lecturers, cleaners or management, while the public transport system to the college is in it's current state.

vinnyirl wrote: »

During the meetings many alternatives were discussed to help solve to problem including adding temporary parking spaces on the grass, and a hell of a lot of parking spaces could have been provided but this was thrown out as the more spaces that are available the more they will get filled (backed by research from someone can't remember who)

There's no reason that a grassed area couldn't be levelled and gravelled and used as an overflow for students while still using parking permits. Parking permits are a incentive in themselves for people not to drive/to car share.



The college is taking out circa 30 spaces for P&D parking while at the same time increasing student numbers, it's a recipe for disaster.

Thanks, Vinny.

I am going to get a permit. If they're no spaces, I will park on the grass. If I get clamped, I will removed it myself, by any means necessary (A Consaw can be rented from Sam Hire (Coolmine Ind. Estate) for €30).

I don't care if they threaten me with criminal damage (I will just reply with "prove it was me that did it!"). Fact is they are themselves breaking the Road Traffic Act 1961.

Also, I like you suggestion, LeeJo, about parking on Blanchardstown Rd N.

Edit:
In order to be clamped, your have to enter a contract with the college/clamping company.
After some reading, there is actually another bit of legislation which makes clamping illegal.

Wilful obstruction.

9.—Any person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, wilfully prevents or interrupts the free passage of any person or vehicle in any public place shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1994/en/act/pub/0002/sec0009.html#sec9

Since the contract breaks the law, it is void. Therefore, clamping in ITB is against the law.

Would I be right in this? I believe I am?

Mods:Might be going a bit of topic, so Kon/mods remove this edit if you want.

A nice thread about clamping.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055949024

KonFusion

brendanL wrote: »

....yes and a man servent who travels around with you carrying your laptop and other essentials. Just because you got to college by 'green' methods :rolleyes:

Hey! We're saving the world goddammit!!! Now where's my man-servant :P

Btw, for those of you wishing to lobby FCC, details of who to contact can be found here http://www.fingalcoco.ie/Planning/

Throw them an email expressing your concerns and see what their stance is on it.

vinnyirl

Leejo wrote: »

Cheers for the reply Vinny, it really is appreciated and clears up a lot of points. A few things though...

Hourly/day tickets? I was under the impression that the shuttle bus was free for students? I

Sorry I thought they were going to charge a nominal fee like €.50 a trip or something. But you are right it is free to use the shuttle bus which is amazing.

Leejo wrote: »

What I'd like to see/suggest is all students not paying the permit and parking on the main road outside the college gates on Blanchardstown Rd N, maybe then that'll wake Fingal Co Co up as I can't see them being too happy about students parking on a busy road and slowing down/creating more traffic.

WOW, give me a ring if a lot of people do this I would love to see it.

Leejo wrote: »

Are you seriously suggesting student's should buy a motorbike as a viable alternative?

Yes I am, and what is wrong with driving a motorbike? I am not suggesting people just go buy a bike and drive in, im suggesting you do it the right way and go get proper training on a motorbike and then drive into college. Motorbikes get the skip the traffic and always get a parking spot. Yes they will continue to be a dangerous form of transport untill cars stop crashing into them and that's why there is so much training required for a motorbike. GET TRAINED BE SAFE.

Leejo wrote: »

There's no reason that a grassed area couldn't be levelled and gravelled and used as an overflow for students while still using parking permits. Parking permits are a incentive in themselves for people not to drive/to car share.

Durring all the meetings this idea was brought up many times and shot down each time for many reasons such as it would look unsightly and any permanent car park needs to go through planning permission which they cannot get untill they brought in the parking fees (catch 22) We did try to get around the planning permission part by saying these new spaces would be temporary, hell I even contacted a company that would have come out and place these metal grate things on the grass which allow the grass to keep growing while supporting the weight of a car so it doesn't damage the grass. But still planning permission gets in the way.

Leejo wrote: »

The college is taking out circa 30 spaces for P&D parking while at the same time increasing student numbers, it's a recipe for disaster.

Actually they are not taking out any spaces as the space being used for P&D is the visitor spots which you couldn't park in any way.

Leejo

vinnyirl wrote: »

Sorry I thought they were going to charge a nominal fee like €.50 a trip or something. But you are right it is free to use the shuttle bus which is amazing.

To be honest with the money they'll raise from parking permits I'd expect it to be free, more than enough to cover the costs.

vinnyirl wrote: »

WOW, give me a ring if a lot of people do this I would love to see it.

Why not just park with us, It's only been muted to my friends in ITB and they've been up for it, don't know about the wider population. Would people be up for protesting in this way? I certainly would and am considering parking there from day 1 of term.

vinnyirl wrote: »

Yes I am, and what is wrong with driving a motorbike? I am not suggesting people just go buy a bike and drive in, im suggesting you do it the right way and go get proper training on a motorbike and then drive into college. Motorbikes get the skip the traffic and always get a parking spot. Yes they will continue to be a dangerous form of transport untill cars stop crashing into them and that's why there is so much training required for a motorbike. GET TRAINED BE SAFE.

I'm sorry but getting rid of your car to buy a motorbike purely so you can get parking in college is not a viable alternative. Motorbike/scooters are fine for some, but it's not everyone's cup of tea nor does it suit everyone. I do not have the want nor desire the drive a motorbike or scooter or get rid of my car for one. They are also massively dangerous whether you're properly trained or not

vinnyirl wrote: »

Durring all the meetings this idea was brought up many times and shot down each time for many reasons such as it would look unsightly and any permanent car park needs to go through planning permission which they cannot get untill they brought in the parking fees (catch 22) We did try to get around the planning permission part by saying these new spaces would be temporary, hell I even contacted a company that would have come out and place these metal grate things on the grass which allow the grass to keep growing while supporting the weight of a car so it doesn't damage the grass. But still planning permission gets in the way.

Look unsightly? So what?
ITB do not have to go to Fingal Co. Co. to let cars parked on a grassy/gravelled OVERFLOW area for a car park. I have absolutely no problem paying per year for parking if it has to be done, PROVIDED I have somewhere to actually park my car.

vinnyirl wrote: »

Actually they are not taking out any spaces as the space being used for P&D is the visitor spots which you couldn't park in any way.

Are you 100% on that? I read somewhere that, that whole row will become P&D. I'll look for the link tomorrow, too tired now.

I'm not having a go at you Vinny in any shape or form so apologies if I come across that way.


To be honest ITB need to stand up to Fingal Co. Co. over this and find a way to come to some sort of mutual ground, either that or support/organise a protest over refusal of planning permission if they're really serious about helping students over this

vinnyirl

Leejo wrote: »

I'm not having a go at you Vinny in any shape or form so apologies if I come across that way.

I know your not, I would much prefer you to disagree with me for every reason under the sun than to agree with me for no reason. Debate is what creates ideas, such as parking on Blanch Rd. North . Love me or hate me I have my opinions and I will stick to them unless proven wrong, in which case I will admit it or at least try to (it ain't easy).

Leejo wrote: »

To be honest with the money they'll raise from parking permits I'd expect it to be free, more than enough to cover the costs.

I think you are underestimating the cost of the shuttle bus, it is extremely expensive to run a bus for this long every day. There are people in the college taking up an extra working load with no extra pay manage the permits to facilitate the bus because doing this entirely through a third-party would make it unfeasible. Although I bet you we are now going to have problems which non ITB getting a free ride on the bus.

Leejo wrote: »

Why not just park with us, It's only been muted to my friends in ITB and they've been up for it, don't know about the wider population. Would people be up for protesting in this way? I certainly would and am considering parking there from day 1 of term.

I am finished at ITB, that's not to say I wont be back, CompSoc does do some amazing LAN parties which I will sneak in for but I am not a student there anymore. However I was part of the committee that brought in these changes and I feel responsible for bringing them in whether they were right or wrong.

I am sure people will protest the problem but the students of ITB have a habit of waiting untill the last-minute to get involved. Paid parking started long ago and emails were sent out to get students involved in the decision process but only myself and one other student applied to be apart of it, maybe things would have been different with more students on the panel. I am not saying this is everyone's fault for not getting involved just that things may have been different if more than a fraction of the students cared when it started rather than getting angry when the changes came in.

If you all decide to park on a public road I hope you know the risks you are taking, at the very least you will be clamped. At the worst you could be arrested, fined, have your car towed and/or end up in court.

Leejo wrote: »

I'm sorry but getting rid of your car to buy a motorbike purely so you can get parking in college is not a viable alternative. Motorbike/scooters are fine for some, but it's not everyone's cup of tea nor does it suit everyone. I do not have the want nor desire the drive a motorbike or scooter or get rid of my car for one. They are also massively dangerous whether you're properly trained or not

Getting rid of a car to buy a bike may not be a viable solution for you but the cost of a car will almost pay for a motorbike + insurance. Motorbikes are not for everyone I do understand this. Driving a motorbike requires a hell of a lot more concentration and preemptive thinking than a car which is where the fun is for me (not everyone's cup of tea). Motorbikes are dangerous when hit by a car but proper training can help prevent this and limit the injuries. Listen, the stats speak for themselves driving a motorbike over a car is trading the safety of an aluminium cage for getting from A to B faster. Enough has been said I say reasonable risk you say massively dangerous I think were stuck on this point, which I shouldn't have brought up in the first place.

I also must state my bias on this, I started at ITB using public transport and it took about an hour and a half to get to college, then i started driving a car which took an hour with all the traffic and trying the get parking, finally I got a bike and it took about 25 minutes to get to college park and get out of my safety gear. Obviously I kept driving the bike and it is why I still do, yes I had one crash which was because I had no training and did not notice a person in a car that did not look right before pulling out but now after many, many hours of training I do notice this stuff and have been driving happily and cautiously for years. FYI if you ever drive a bike think that all people who drive cars are blind people who are trying to kill you and you will be fine

Leejo wrote: »

Look unsightly? So what?

A lot of people do care how the college looks and cars parked the whole way up to the college looks ugly to some. It's a matter of opinion and therefore something that can be changed. What I am saying is it was tried and failed and not just by me but staff members of the college too but it was decided that it looked unsightly and was denied. Oddly the unsightliness was the ruling factor even though it was later found it would be impossible without planning permission.

Leejo wrote: »

ITB do not have to go to Fingal Co. Co. to let cars parked on a grassy/gravelled OVERFLOW area for a car park.

You are dead wrong there as it would count at a permanent car park, OVERFLOW or not. It would therefore need planning permission. If ITB where to ignore this LAW they would be in a whole heap of trouble.

Leejo wrote: »

Are you 100% on that? I read somewhere that, that whole row will become P&D. I'll look for the link tomorrow, too tired now.

Originally there where quite a few visitor parking spaces, these spaces will be uses for P&D along with some spaces taken for the additional car park which is being built.

Leejo wrote: »

To be honest ITB need to stand up to Fingal Co. Co. over this and find a way to come to some sort of mutual ground, either that or support/organise a protest over refusal of planning permission if they're really serious about helping students over this

I agree with you as long a ITB means the Students of ITB, the reason for all of this is the college is treated as something different from a commercial business but when it comes to car parking it is not too much different at all. We should be given the same planning rights as a commercial business with 3,000 employees (3k is a guess of the people at ITB).

Block G Raptor

Any of you guy's wanna come on d15 today on Phoenix Fm to discuss this? We'll support ya any way we can

tansed

Im only starting next thursday as a mature student and I drive, having to worry about a car space in now a headache along with worrying about starting over in college. I was at the open day today and was talking to one of the lecturers and he was also worried about this.

I said my concern that if someone drives to the college and gets there 10 mins before a lecture and realises there aint any spaces imagine the stress..they have now ten minutes to find a space somewhere NAC,Sopping Centre etc and then try make there way to the college, crazy stuff.

But the lecturer said especially 1st years will get stressed if they miss lectures and before they know they could fall behind with the possibility off quiting, which did make me worry. I know im a first year compared to most here, but still im worrying and I have not even walked through the door yet.

Leejo

ITB is awarding a contract for the construction of additional parking near the LINC. Construction should commence in about 3 weeks time and is expected to be completed before Christmas. There will be a net increase of 47 parking spaces bringing the total number of parking spaces on campus to approximately 634. That will be 15 disabled spaces, approx. 40 Pay & Display (10 at the LINC and 30 in the main carpark) and the remainder will be permit only from 1st November.

A step in the right direction but more spaces are still needed, hopefully construction doesn't obstruct the spaces already available in the linc before their completion.

@Vinny - "40 Pay & Display spaces". That's fairly certain to me that they're taking out the whole row where the visitor spaces were previously.

So before Christmas we're down 30+ spaces but after Christmas we'll be up 47 over in the linc, 10 of them will be Pay & Display so in total we'll be up 7 available spaces on what we had last year...

Leejo

Leejo wrote: »

A step in the right direction but more spaces are still needed, hopefully construction doesn't obstruct the spaces already available in the linc before their completion.

@Vinny - "40 Pay & Display spaces". That's fairly certain to me that they're taking out the whole row where the visitor spaces were previously.

So before Christmas we're down 30+ spaces but after Christmas we'll be up 47 over in the linc, 10 of them will be Pay & Display so in total we'll be up 7 available spaces on what we had last year...

So there will be 579 normal spaces for what I would guess 4000+ student of which I would say 20% of the drive.

Also I would say there is easily 60+ (maybe a lot more??) staff who drive.

So lets say 20% or 1 in every 5 students drive (I would say it's more, just remember all them cars on the grass/road last year) = 800+.

So Minimum, 800+60=860+ people for 579 spaces. Yeah, thats going to work... *sarcarism*

Edit:
Wiki says there is 200 staff? So add, I would say around 100, onto 860+....

Mar4ix

i am new student and i have a car... thanks Good, i am living in blanchardstow. Over all those clashes for parking space, i am really considering use bycicle.

Anyone know, how safe leave bicycle at itb ? Easy enough park bicycle there (bays or railings ) ? Any reports of stolen bicycles there ?


thanks

Mar4ix

Mar4ix wrote: »

i am new student and i have a car... thanks Good, i am living in blanchardstow. Over all those clashes for parking space, i am really considering use bycicle.

Anyone know, how safe leave bicycle at itb ? Easy enough park bicycle there (bays or railings ) ? Any reports of stolen bicycles there ?


thanks

I cycled for 1.5 years and nothing ever happened my bike.

There is bike sheds and they are in area where people are always walking around and there is camera watching them too, so yes, they are safe.

donfarrell

Probably a stupid question but does Itb own the land?
Also has anyone seen that field to the right of the road leading up to the linc building? Its huge, why not just pay some guy to throw down some gravel ffs :L