PARKING PLANS FOR VISITING COACHES.
Page 12
Page 13
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Official Information, Aided by Maps, Which Should Prove of Inestimable Value to Coach Proprietors.
141V OW IHEN, get a move on; you can't stand there 11 blocking up the traffic like this, you know."
The speaker was a stalwart and self-possessed individual, with the raw on his side, engaged in traffic regulation and control in a busy seaside town. The man in blue had threateningly advanced towards a perplexed motor coach driver, who had taken upon himself the task of unloading, in a narrow thoroughfare along which busy streams of local traffic flowed, the passengers he had brought by. road sonic 50 odd miles.
" But I thought . ," came the slow and halffinished reply. " Never mind what you thought," waa the agitated response. "Are you going to do as I tell you, or do you want me to take out my pocket-book ? I don't want to interfere with your rights; but you haven't any right here, doing what you are."
"Now, you don't want to start. an argument with the force, do you? I've got my duties to perform, and (looking round in the direction from which he had advanced) you're holding up all this traffic."
The accumulation of vehicles during the exchange of words evidently surprised the excited constable, as he beat a hasty retreat in the direction of the congested traffic, muttering .aa he proceeded to pacify the perturbed drivers of the vehicles' which had received a set-back to their progress, "Get a. move on ! "
An excellent moral can be drawn from this short dialogue. Whilst the police in some towns and cities are, at all times, willing-to proffer assistance to road users, others are only too ready to exert their authority, and motor coach owners invariably come in for more than a fair share of hostile criticism. Very often they will remonstrate with innocent offenders of the law without endeavouring to assist them in any way. The difficulty is that many towns and cities possess widely varying regulations governing the loading and unloading of passengers to and from visiting coaches and the parking of the vehicles. This divergence has been directly responsible for the creatiora of confusion in the minds of many road users. If ..motor Coach owners. will only .circulate amongst their driver-employees the official information, aided by maps, which we are publishing week by week, they will do much to abviate unnecessary interference from officious members of the constabulary. It is not expected that the complete set of maps will be of value to many users, whose activities may not extend beyond 100 miles of their main centre, but we have official information in our possession dealing with the arrangements which' are made for the reception of visiting coaches in most of the prominent coaching centres in the country. Some of this matter, aided by maps clearly indicating the various routes of approach to the parking grounds, will be published week by week, until most of the places which are included amongst the popular runs on users' programmes are exhausted. As some of these particulars, however, may not be published for some weeks to come, we are prepared to forward details through the post to any coach owner who applies to the Editor on remittance of cost of postage. We have already dealt with issue), Clacton, facilities at Oxford, Norwich, Cardiff (March 28th ssue), Clacton, Carnarvon, Penzance and Portsmouth, details of the last four of which appeared in our last issue, and below we deal with the regulations which are in force at Canterbury, Exeter and Weymouth. Caleasnaturtia—Coaches entering this city with the intention of remaining for some time are allowed to stand in Whitehall Road and in Longport Street (hospital side), provided, in the case of the latter place, that. the road in front of the hospital is not used. No parking fee is charged at either site. In the event of emergency visiting coaches may be parked in the Cattle Market, except on market days, a fee of 2s. being charged for each vehicle.
EXETER.—There is no open space for parking visiting vehicles, but they are permitted to take up a stand in single tile in New North Road, opposite the prison. Coaches running on fixed-routes in the neighbourhood are accommodated • in that portion of New North Road which lies between Blackall Road and the Theatre Royal.Both positions are centrally located.
VITExmormia.—Visiting coaches are required, to set. down and pick up their passengers outside Alexandra Gardens, which are located at the pier end of the Esplanade. After discharging their passengers drivers must proceed alonethe rear of the Esplanade until they reach King Street. The Royal Hotel is situated in first turning on the left out of this , thoroughfare, and at the rear of the hotel the Town Council has provided a parking ground. A tell of 2s, per vehicle per day is charged.
As already mentioned, we intend to keep a stock of reprints upon. card of these maps, and the official information which accompanies them, and to supply them on request, provided stamps be enclosed to cover the cost of packing and postage. Many owners have already-made applications for these cards and have expressed the view that the information given will be invaluable during the forthcoming season. Those owners who have not yet availed themselves of this opportunity should state the number of vehicles in their fleets, and indicate clearly the towns for which plans are required. All applications should be addressed to the Editor, 7-15, Rosebery Avenue, E.C.1.