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This month's rant by The Gungahlin
Grinch
Parking Signs
apply to everyone - YES, EVEN YOU!!!!! |
Arrraaahhhh!!
It may come as a huge shock to
some people, but those no parking/no standing signs that dot the
Gungahlin landscape DO serve a purpose. Now let the Grinch
think... what could it be? Ah yes, perhaps they are put
there as an artificial IQ test. Actually the Grinch hopes
not, otherwise some Gungahlin residents would have a score more
akin to a low scoring soccer (sorry football) game.
Here is a really radical Grinch
thought (yes, he has them from time to time) - perhaps these
signs are put up to:
1. improve public safety
2. improve traffic flow
Illegal parking around local
shops
The local shop car parking scene
really gets the Grinch's blood boiling every time. What is
it with some people? "I'm only getting a few things" they will
say if ever challenged for parking against red curbs, no parking
signs etc. So the ---- is 99% of everyone else!
The Grinch is particularly fed up
with the illegal parking in Gribble Street. The area
between the video store and the pizza shops are especially
galling to him. There is a NO PARKING sign on the video
shop side of the road for a bloody good reason. With cars
parked on both sides of the road an anorexic Paris Hilton would
struggle to squeeze through. It's only a matter of time
before someone is hurt because of this dangerous practice, and
it better not be The Grinch!
For the slow witted amongst us -
or those who think hiring/dropping off a video is as important
as curing cancer - the side of the road that has the video store
on it is NO PARKING!! Get it? The Grinch better not
see any more cars parked here - he may just (finally) loose his
temper!
Illegal parking around Schools
Ah school! A place of learning for
the region's growing minds. A place of understanding,
tolerance and peace - yeah right, not during the traditional kid
drop off and pick up! - Just how arrogant are some parents?
Off they go, driving to school,
obeying every rule in the book until they get within 300 metres
of the school - then it is on for young and old!
They jostle for position in a
display of driving our own Mark Webber would be proud of.
Weaving in and out of traffic to be the first into the school
car park. They have to be first as no other parent could
possibly be as busy or as important as them. They drop the
kids off with such speed even the Ferrari pit crew would be
proud!
They park as close to the school
as possible. The Grinch thinks it's a good job the schools
have fences, as he is sure some of them would park next to the
teachers desk if they could! They "don't see" the Set
Down/Pick Up only, NO PARKING sign just three metres from them.
Out of the car they get, into the school the dash, only to
return a few minutes later for round two of the Gungahlin Grand
Prix!
Seriously guys (sorry, in 95% of
cases it's the gals) get a grip. Everyone is as important
as everyone else. The world is not (trust the Grinch here)
just yours, and if you are a few minutes late the Grinch doesn't
think this will cause the world to implode.
The Grinch's Answer?
If we can't convince the pig
headed amongst us to stick to the parking laws, perhaps the
solution would be to issue them with a "special license".
No the Grinch doesn't mean a special "you're a dick head"
license (hey, now there's an idea!) but a license that raises
them to the status they (think) they deserve. At least
this way, we may not get as annoyed when we see them parking
illegally. The "Special License" could read like this;
"This is special license.
It allows the bearer to park wherever they want, whenever they
want, regardless of the posted sign, or the absolute
inconvenience caused to other road users having to negotiate
around their vehicle.
Furthermore, this license will
alter the conscience of the bearer to such an extent that they
will be totally oblivious to other road users stares, gestures
or rude words whilst carrying this license.
The Grinch can see it now - He
comes across a car parked illegally next to the video shop in
Gribble Street. He gets out of his (legally) parked car,
ready to slash the tyres of the (illegally parked) vehicle, when
out comes the cars owner (a skinny, fit, blonde, about 25)
waving the "special license". It will make the Grinch feel
so much better. He will probably even offer to hold the
videos and pizza while she fumbles for the keys.....
So what do you think? The
Grinch isn't always right. There was this one time back in
1945.....
The Grinch
December 2006
Agree/disagree with the Grinch?
Do you agree with the Grinch? or
would you like to take a swipe at the cranky old bugger?
Let us know by
emailing us here at The
Gungahlin Region On-line! If you want, we'll even add you
comments here for the rest of Gungahlin to see.
PLEASE NOTE: The
owners of The Gungahlin Region On-line! do not necessarily agree
with any comments made by the Grinch. If you have a
complaint about his comments please
email
them directly to us. We will make sure he gets them!
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The
Gungahlin Region On-line!