Smithson: 20 cars pinged as bikes vs cars city tussle gets ugly
A street fight is emerging in the city’s east end as plans to turn a shopping and dining boulevard into a cycling haven spin ahead. Mike Smithson delves into the drama.
How do you solve a problem like Hutt Street?
There’s currently no ‘sound of music’ or the scent of edelweiss coming from the city’s south-east corner.
InDaily first reported escalating tensions over Adelaide City Council’s proposed revamp of the precinct last month, which has now turned even uglier.
Various businesses, residents and a faction-torn council are at loggerheads about turning the popular shopping strip into a bike-friendly, rather than a car-friendly, location.
Options being explored, including a separated bike lane on both sides, could see Hutt Street parking cut from 132 to just 42 full-time, dedicated spaces.
To steal a popular, yet often ridiculed, line from the 1965 Sound of Music movie classic, Mother Abbess asks her novice nun who’s looking for a direction in life, “Maria, what is it you can’t face?”
The same could be asked of all players in this modern-day Hutt Street drama.
Theories and conspiracy theories abound over public consultation.
South Ward Councillor and Fair Go for Australians political hopeful Henry Davis says the figures don’t add up.
He’s obtained two versions of an Adelaide Economic Development Agency study which show altered Consumer Expenditure Analysis.
One states 87 per cent of dollars spent come from visitors who aren’t local residents.
The ‘B version’ of the same analysis simply lists the nine main suburbs where Hutt Street shoppers live rather than the original raw percentage.
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In other words, he says, council doesn’t want it known that only 13 per cent spent there comes from locals, so those driving through are the 87 per cent of shoppers who also require ample car parking.
If that’s slashed, so is the income for retailers.
Without shopping outlets, those living nearby will also be left high and dry, whether or not they’re avid cyclists.
He also says council’s consultation didn’t require respondents to register their names or other contact details making it impossible to verify their bona fides and therefore allowing data to be skewed by lobby groups.
But in ACC’s defence, it’s trying to make this iconic stretch an even more eye-catching drawcard.
Council is set to vote on one of five options, with the most expensive dedicated bike lane plan estimated to cost $29.2 million.
Adding to the complexity there would be a new traffic contraflow depending on the time of day.
In the morning peak, two lanes would flow towards the city with only one heading out.
During the afternoon it would revert to two lanes out and only one in, as the traffic heads home.
That already has a former-Southern Expressway unworkable vibe about it.
Where it lands is anyone’s guess, but what’s certain is a fight to the bitter end from those opposed to the most radical transformation.
At least four businesses have indicated they’re likely to go to the wall if mass parking spaces are lost in favour of European-style bike access.
As the population ages there’s always need for a pharmacy, which is the medicinal beating heart of Hutt Street for many.
In letter or plea, whichever way you look at it, the proprietor of Star Discount Chemist openly expressed dismay to council at the planned streetscape change with a less-than-subtle warning.
“Unfortunately, with the impending disruption to car parking, our community pharmacy may have to relocate away from Hutt Street,” the letter stated.
“The majority of our patients and customers drive and park their vehicles to obtain their prescriptions and any urgent medical advice.
“There is a large aging population in this area of the city, and we are the only pharmacy on Hutt Street.
“Many of these people cannot walk long distances, nor ride a bike and hence their car is the only mode of transport.”
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The letter to council also pointed out that unlike cities such as Copenhagen, where there are also extensive bike lanes, Adelaide doesn’t have an underground train network for easy access to all corners.
If council says tough luck and “see you later” to the pharmacy, there’s another potential catch.
“Should we be forced to relocate, government legislation cannot allow another pharmacy licence to be granted unless there are strict criteria achieved,” the proprietor said.
It’s claimed that would entail construction of a nearby shopping centre with a large supermarket of 3000 square metres and 15 shops, which isn’t going to be happening in this tight pocket.
Another councillor opposing the massive upgrade proposed under option D is currently besieged with complaints.
Mary Couros says she’s been inundated with concerns about the proposed parking dilemma.
“There’s no way many businesses can survive in this precinct without the carparking there,” she said.
“That’s a loss of amenities which have been here for a very long time.”
Cr Couros has her own suggestions to opposing councillors.
“I would support retaining the car parking as it is,” she explained.
“I would also support an upgrade of the street, lighting, footpaths and ambient lighting just to improve the amenity of the area.
“So, I fully support the residents who are concerned.”
If it comes down to dollars, the do nothing but beautify (option A) plan will cost $701,000.
Option B would substantially remodel the street without severely impacting car parking and set ratepayers back by $24.9 million.
It’s already been backed with 1300 signatures in a community-based petition.
Cr Davis says council’s apparent push is very much a war on cars, without conducting sufficient traffic studies.
“You’ll send them to a crush point (in Hutt Street) which will cram cars into other streets with a bank up of traffic from elsewhere, such as Unley Road,” he says.
“At the end of the day, the traders come first.”
And motorists shouldn’t assume any council leniency if they’re forced to park into shrinking availability in surrounding streets.
My Channel 7 colleague Elspeth Hussey noticed 20 cars in a row pinged with $79 parking tickets for outstaying their welcome in adjoining Carrington Street.
You’d hardly think any of these drivers would run the gauntlet again if Hutt Street parking is slashed.
This saga is still heading for more drama than the Von Trapp family fleeing Austria.
Mike Smithson is weekend presenter and political analyst for 7News.
