Environment
TAKE FROM THE POOR, GIVE TO THE RICH HIPPIES: Westfield reserves parking for hybrid vehicles
Shopping mall operator Westfield has installed hybrid-only car-parking spaces at some of their shopping centres.
Here’s a pic I took this morning of the spaces at Westfield Hornsby in Sydney. They are sited directly opposite the main entry. They are empty. They usually are.
What I find fascinating about this is that Hornsby is a battlers’ area so there are very few Toyota Prius cars or other hybrids. Some have noted that the hybrid Lexus RX400h SUV produces 192g/km of CO2 but the non-hybrid Volkswagen Golf 118TSI produces 144g/km of CO2, suggesting that the hybrid designation is arbitrary and does little to assist the environment.
Basically all Westfield have done is removed two of the best parking spaces in the complex and allocated them to those wealthy but environmentally conscious souls who had the money to buy one of these expensive motor vehicles. [VEXNEWS: We are reminded of the former Soviet Union with its special express lanes on highways for ministerial vehicles in the form of Zim limousines. All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.]
This does not benefit their customers, the only benefit is to Westfield. This pointless action gives them a warm, fuzzy inner-glow and something to boast about in corporate communications and with pesky left-wing environment reporters keen to denigrate Westfield’s big shrines to retail as concrete eyesores.
Discussion
28 comments for “TAKE FROM THE POOR, GIVE TO THE RICH HIPPIES: Westfield reserves parking for hybrid vehicles”
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So just park there — what are they going do to? It’s not like it’s a disabled spot (on the other hand…!).
I could park my 2 litre diesel there and still be ahead on virtuousness.
Melbourne readers – Hornsby is about as working class as Ivanhoe. It’s a stones throw from where the Hillsong mob hang out on a Sunday.It’s part of the insular penninsula of the Tory North. It’s hardly Blacktown, Rooty Hill or Campelltown – or Noble Park, Dandenong or Hoppers Crossing. Hybrid cars and parking spaces for them are an utter wank, but get yr demographics right boyo.
On the other hand perhaps this an sneaky way of preserving prime spots for local councillors and municipal staff.
Perhaps it is time for a Sydney version of the Latte Curtain map.
Hornsby a battlers area?
INCOME – ABS
Median household income ($/weekly) Hornsby $1,514
Australia $1,027
That’s double that of Byron and halfway between Wahroonga and the Australia average.
What I don’t understand is why people are not parking in the spots. Are we that easily cowed or bossed around or frightened when the spectre of global warming bollocks is raised? What nonsense. I would delight in parking my gorgeous, sexy V6 Holden Commodore SV6 on those spots. If only Westfield had this at their Melbourne centres, I would go along to do just that!
It’s Westfield’s carpark, Byron. They may do with it what they wish.
***it’s a stones throw from where the Hillsong mob hang out on a Sunday***
He! What a load of codswallop. Yet nonetheless instructive, in showing how easily you lefties lie.
***it’s Westfield’s carpark, Byron. They may do with it what they wish***
…and we can pass comment as we wish.
***median household income ($/weekly) Hornsby $1,514***
Compared to what, yupster? Wilcannia? Doomadgee? Your stats only relevant if compared to the North Shore you so despise/envy. In which case, Hornsby would be right at the bottom of the chart.
Do T1000 terminators count as hybrids (i.e. part human/part machine) ? Can I park mine there?
What about Transformers?
@ Goose | May 26, 2009, 15:03
It’s Westfield’s carpark, but the local Council rangers patrol it.
I wonder if they enforce the hippies-only signage?
oh dear, and are these ‘battlers’ of Hornsby the ones that can’t afford to live in Wahroonga mr Byron??
Who cares if there are 2 out of over 300 car spaces allocated for hybrid vehicles (of which there is now a Honda version too!). I am more concerned about the ‘Parents with Prams’ spots. Just how are they enforceable or justified???
So, if the council officers patrol the area, what by-law is being breached? You can’t fine someone if you don’t have the head of power to do so….
If I see one, I’ll take up two spots with my Pathfinder complete with bullbar and CB whip.
Can I park my hybrid there? It’s a Falcon that runs dual fuel! That is a kind of hybrid!
It’s Westfield’s carpark, but the local Council rangers patrol it.
What’s the charge, officer?
People who park in designate “Parents with Prams” spots, also not an enforceable street-sign, are arseholes. However this parking sign is worthy of ridicule.
“…and we can pass comment as we wish.”
Ah, I see, a member of the ‘whinging c-word’ demographic.
I should clarify my previous comment. People who park in “Parents with Prams” spots without a corresponding child or pram are arseholes.
Those spots provide a safety benefit to parents of small children and stop pram-drivers playing chicken with cars while they may be distracted with a child.
Not only can I read a map but I used to live there and my family still do. So I’m not an lefty inner city-ite. It’s Hillsong territory – Baulkham Hills, Pennant Hills, Cherrybrook, Hornsby.
Parking for motobikes and small low emission cars like Suzuki Swifts, or Toyata Echos would make more environmental sense than hybrids. Hard to come up with a cut off criteria though.
Perhaps a regular sprinkling of tacks and nails on these spaces would be appropriate?
Just mark the spots ‘Wankers Only Parking’ that should make everyone think twice ‘am I a wanker’ then only big petrol guzzling 4WD driving morons (including Deano Mighell) will park there!!
Why give only give ALP Members parking spots?
That is all ‘Wankers Only’ Parking will do.
Green park places for mental handicaped, what to complain for ?
Hmmm, define “hybrid”? Does that mean petrol/electric, diesel/electric, LPG/petrol, diesel/LPG with or without regenerative braking. And does it include fully electric cars and if so those with LiIon batteries or lead/acid? If I have a solar panel on my roof does that make me a hybrid? But then parking underneath is a bit pointless if you have solar isn’t it? Are the going to provide 240V outlets to recharge in these spaces?
The questions are endless…..
I’m gunna park my bike there, secured by a three way chain. Then I might have a quiet chat with the manager about the spending power of the green elite compared to the rest of us.
[...] operators designate special parking areas… for hybrids.
Does any have a list of Australian and international Westfield malls? I can then avoid them and patronise the malls of others.
[...] you compost, whether you wear tie-dyes or not. Mall operators designate special parking areas