Parking costs and availability problems in Melbourne CBD

Transportation is critical in most of the developed world. Transportation provides for the quick delivery and exchange of products and services. Many of these products and services help to create and sustain a better society for all. In Melbourne, the transfer of services is critical to the overall functioning of the area. Costs and disruptions must therefore be limited within the area. As our data suggests transit time, parking, and lack of alternative travel methods is harming the Melborne area. In particular travel to the Melbourne CBD and the subsequent costs of parking should be addressed.

Key Findings and Critical Analysis

Our key findings indicate that Melborne constituents are concerned about the cost of parking and the overall lack of alternative public transportation methods. As indicated above, many people within society travel as means to exchange their goods and services. Melbourne is no different in this regard. Over 70% of the individuals surveyed, travel to Melbourne CBD for shopping, work, or social events. In all three, individuals are exchanges goods such as labor for money and other items. Over 50% of the individuals surveyed stay longer than 2 hours parking when they visit. 44% people of respondents typical drive to Melbourne on the weekends. As can be gleamed from these statistics, Melbourne can be considered a business hub. Most people come for work or leisure. They individuals typically come on the weekend. When they do come, they tend to stay for at least a few hours to engage in their leisure or shopping activity.

Unfortunately, the search for parking when a respondent arrives can be daunting. 40% of people feel stressed and anxious when parking their vehicles. A stressed environment is not conducive to purchasing behavior, which as discussed above, Melbourne is attempting to foster. Only 15% of respondents believe there is adequate parking in the area to address the needs of visitors. A majority, 75% rate the parking experience as neutral or disappointing.

Although people enjoy traveling to Melbourne to participate in work, shopping, and leisure activities, the parking experience is detracting from their overall enjoyment. Parking is becoming stressful due in part to inadequate availability, lack of supporting infrastructure, and high costs. What makes matters worse is that respondents don't often travel to Melbourne. 54% of respondents travel to the area, just once a month. The lack of parking coupled with high costs, ultimately detracts from the overall appear of the area. Those visitors who visit infrequently are therefore left with a bad first impression, which has implications for the entire area.

Quantitative Data Production

We first implemented online surveys to customers in both residential and rural areas within the Melbourne area. We also partnered with neighboring technical colleges and universities to distribute our online survey. We distributed online surveys in the afternoon and on the weekends. We included question related to travel, costs, and the overall parking experience. We also asked questions to determine what customers believed to be the solution to the parking and transportation issues in Melbourne. Our key findings helped to better narrow down questions to arrive at the solution we deemed most appropriate.

Quantitative Data Collection

We surveyed 167 people primarily at retail locations in the evening and weekends. We found that most people enjoy the overall travel to Melbourne. They often travel on the weekends to engage in shopping and other leisure activities. We found that once they arrive, the parking creates a stress and anxious experience. Most people believe that they pay too much in parking ($10) and would only be willing to pay $5 to park. Many believe they should not pay premium prices, when the overall parking experience was stressful. Customers have cited the limited amount of parking, the desire to find free parking, and the costs of parking as the main deterrents in their experience. We found that by lowering prices, increasing availability and supplementing it with technology, Melbourne can greatly enhance the experience of its visitors.

The information collected was very relevant to the topic as it allowed us to narrow down the reasons for the disgruntled nature of customers. It also allowed us to pinpoint the magnitude to this frustration. Many of the questions were straight forward and simple to understand. There were no issues with the questions.