[happygolucky]

Just had to let of steam but needed to share..just in case.
I dropped my daughter and family off next to Waverly station and was very careful where and how I park, the only signs around were the parking meters, I parallel parked between 2 other cars and put the correct money in and returned before my time elapsed to find a ticket that said I had not parked in the bay provided!!! I saw no notice anywhere about bays and no marks where I parked....I have only just challenged this but it did P me off, if they want you to park in Bays then they need a big notice like I have seen in other car parks, I was parked nicely too and have photos!!!!! I did notice that other places were clearly marked so maybe that's why my parking space was empty as there was no paint on the road to suggest bays.
I had to park all over Edinburgh (wonderful city) over the last few weeks due to work and parked in the wrong street once but chatted (for ages) to a parking at tendent and could not move my car from one side street to the opposite one I could not understand that one but I was just  coming down with the flu and had no more change (£4 an hour to park) so walked the extra distance and nearly, very very nearly got run over!!!
Now no way do I think I should be able to park as and when I like but the system is a bit off!!!! anyway, rant over and possibly a few quid down!!

[happygolucky]

  Just must add, the long chat was about the phone payment you can make, I was going to do that but the attendent said it goes wrong all the time as you have to make sure you put in the correct area you are parked etc otherwise it will top up the last area you park....now they need to do something to help people unless they are enjoying the extra income of people paying parking fines!! I find it  hard to pull over to read the addresses I had to visit without a parking attendent in my wing mirror!

[doganjo]

I never try to park in our two big cities - that's what our local train station is for.  'Let the Train take the Strain' 

[happygolucky]

I have loved my driving around the city, mind you, its a bit horrid as most the roads are being dug up   but its been beautiful, not even getting my parking back and I did do the buses with my free pass but I was done in, all those hills so I decided to save money and take my flask and butties and pay!!! ha aha....its much much much easier than London, Nottingham or other cities in England, also love driving around Glasgow as long as you know where you are going!!   

[Fleecewife]

We got a ticket a few years ago in Edinburgh for parking in a Blue Badge bay - with my OH's Blue Badge displayed.  Warden claimed he couldn't read the expiry date.  It took ages to sort that one out. 
 
When we were students (so many years ago  ) to park outside the women's union in Chambers Street on my bike meant parking right outside the traffic wardens lair - they were always ready to pounce and seemed to exist in a permanent bad temper.
 
No wonder people prefer to go to the shopping malls on the outskirts of town where you know you can park.  I suppose it's to encourage people to use public transport, but we are an hour's drive away and a couple of hours in the bus.  I'm travel sick on every form of transport, so even if I could get to a bus stop at this end I would be in no fit state to do any shopping once I got into Edinburgh.

[happygolucky]

Fleece wife, I did enjoy some walking BUT, after a day of going on one bus then another then walking up countless hills, I came home done in so we decided I would still be better off taking the car in, it would work out to use buses but you need to be a master mind to sort that one out with so many roads out, has anyone on here driven around the city durring the last few weeks? I kept trying to re route my trips as evey other street was a divertion...took some nice photos, I also  up loaded a bus route map but it was too slow!!!!!! There must be millions of wardens in Edinburgh, I went to eat my sandwhich in an off the beaton track area but had to make a  hasty retreat when I saw hi viz comming! 

[bigchicken]

I rarely work in central Edinburgh and  traffic wardens are not very sympathetic to say the least, The last time I worked there I was unloading my van and came out of the property to find Mr warden with pen and paper in hand, wow I am unloading my van I said, you are aloud five minutes and you have three left he said, I explained that I would be a wee bit longer, You have three minutes then, I had to park my van two streets away the nearest space available and carry the last of my tools to the job. I have made enquiries about a tradesman parking ticket its £100 pounds so I am getting one and the money will come from my customers sorry.

[happygolucky]

I noticed loads of poor trades people with twitches.......thats why jobs cost much more in the city, the funny bit is trying to get to places as so many roads are closed off at different times!!!

[Victorian Farmer]

You should chalinge it a 3rd gets of . I go round the ring way and bus in its not worth the hassle .

[happygolucky]

 
When we got to the car a smartly dressed man said it was illegal for them to have posted the fine as there were no markings and no sign....so I have challenged it but the photo did not go on to the form......I actualy made a lot of effort to double check, thats the bit that made me so cross, if I had seen a sign I would not have parked there......any way, fingers  crossed   My daughter wanted to take me in for a good buy meal so it was easier for us all and cases to go in the car, they paid petrol bless them......anyway...my husband came off his cycle between 2 buses a few weeks ago but he  could not claime, I now notice signes that cyclists should be aware of tram lines are up everywhere.......steve was very badly bruised and most of his bike and clothing ruined, at a cost as his work then would not let him use his bike!!  Come on Edinburgh, you are a beautiful city stop being so naughty!!

[doganjo]

The Council are very naive and letting contractors take them for a ride - and not on a bus or a tram either!

Same thing happened with the new Parliament Building and look at the monstrosity that appeared!

[Anke]

As a former resident of Edinburgh (both city centre and further out) I don't think there is much point of using the car in the city - just get a bus or cycle! My OH still works in Edinburgh, right in the centre and no parking... so he parks further out (where it is still free) unloads his bike from the boot and cycles the last bit... at least he gets some exercise.
We used to take both babies on the bike to and from nursery - one in the front and one in the back seat, you see loads of people doing it. It is just a different way of getting from A to B in the city.
Edinburgh is very well served by buses, and nowadays at least you can get a buggy onto them (although by now I am well past that stage). I used to walk (pushing a double buggy) from Greenbank to the Botanics once a week... it's about 4 miles I think... and back again... the best way to get fit and the babies to sleep!
I understand the problem for trades people and deliveries, and yes I don't know why traffic wardens have had their faces surgically altered to look so bored and menacing at the same time... I usually just felt sorry for them.

[suziequeue]

I expect the parking issue is deliberate in order to encourage people to bus or cycle......

[doganjo]

I expect the parking issue is deliberate in order to encourage people to bus or cycle......

And those dratted trams!

[Fleecewife]

When we lived in Edinburgh we all took the cycling or motorcycling approach, or walking when it was too snowy.  However, my OH and I are no longer able to do that, so if we are going to go into the city centre it has to be the car, and we have to park close to where we are going.  Carrying bags and boxes endless streets away is not only a nuisance, but for many people, including we less than 100% healthy oldies, impossible.  I used to love the city centre but now I simply can't go there.