Electronic parking signs around Fremantle showing how much parking there is available, and where, is the City’s bid to dispel the notion that there’s not enough parking during the busy Christmas and summer period.
The signs show real time availability of parking bays in the first-hour-free Parry Street and Queensgate carparks, as well as the provision to include Collie Street station, along the entrances to the city in a bid to inform drivers before they get into the city centre.
City of Fremantle Corporate Services director Glen Dougall said the boards were put in strategic locations to help visitors quicker.
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READ NOW‘Fremantle can be tricky to navigate and visitors tend to utilise the same car park each time they visit,’ he said.
‘The real time availability and directional signage point visitors to the key parking locations for specific areas and attractions in the City.
‘The signage assists visitors to make a decision on the approach roads rather than when they are in the centre of the City and find their usual spot full.’
Despite having more than 5000 parking bays in the area, and more than 350 of those free, City of Fremantle Corporate Services director Glen Dougall said there was a perception about a lack of parking spaces in Fremantle.
‘Parking studies carried out by the City suggest that even in peak periods, there is an abundance of affordable off-street parking available, particularly at the centrally-located Queensgate car park,’ he said.
‘It’s not an easy job to change community perceptions but it’s something the City is working hard to overcome.
‘Many people also complain that in Fremantle they can’t find parking near the store they want to shop at and it’s ironic that these same conditions apply to big box shopping centres like Garden City, yet this is generally accepted by the public without a second thought.
‘It’s also ironic that in many cases you would need to walk further when parked at a big box shopping centre car park than you would if you parked in Fremantle when walking to the shop of your choice.’