Car-share parking gets high priority in Wellington

Moves to provide more car-share parking across Wellington have been passed by the capital’s city council, despite opposition from councillor Diane Calvert because she “quite likes driving”.

Her comments came during debate on whether car-share parking should get greater priority in the capital’s transport plans, part of the council’s new parking policy.

Responding to a move from councillor Laurie Foon to bump car-share parking up the priority list for the central city and suburban centres, Calvert says she cannot support the idea, Stuff reports.

Calvert says while she appreciates many people wouldn’t want more cars on the road, she quite enjoys driving and believes cars will remain a necessity for the city.

Public feedback on the policy, approved by councillors on Thursday, support the original proposals, she adds.

The guidelines gave car-share parking a medium priority, increased to high after the motion was approved 12-3 by councillors.

Other changes to the framework came about through public feedback, with bike and bus parking given a higher priority, and EV parking shunted down the list.

Foon says car-share vehicles each remove 10-20 private vehicles from the road and help people transition from owning a car, Stuff

says.

Councillor Sean Rush says the main change will come through higher EV sales, one Lower Hutt car dealer reportedly selling 76 EVs and just 15 petrol vehicles in July.

Wellington car-sharing services include Mevo and Cityhop, both having EVs in their fleets.