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IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Durban and Pietermaritzburg prepare for Comrades Marathon 2025
The eThekwini and Msunduzi Municipalities are conducting their final inspections of their road and other infrastructure in anticipation of the 98th Comrades Marathon on Sunday 8 June. 2025. The eThekwini and Msunduzi Municipalities are conducting their final inspections of their road and other infrastructure in anticipation of the 98th Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 8 June. This is the 49th down run, that will start at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finishing 12 hours later at Durban's People's Park. The eThekwini Municipality stated that they are excited to host about 24,000 runners from around the globe and 35,000 anticipated spectators of the marathon, regarded as the Ultimate Human Race. EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba said hosting a race of this magnitude continues to position Durban as the most preferred sporting destination. Xaba said he is looking forward to welcoming the influx of tourists and roll-out the red carpet for runners and spectators. Xaba said events of this magnitude provide exposure to national and international media platforms, which further profiles destination Durban. 'It is a strong indication that we are among other international cities known for successfully delivering memorable sporting events. We will continue to leverage on such events as they boost the local economy and drive tourism,' said Xaba. Xaba said hosting the event will have a direct spend of R275 million with 1,800 jobs expected to be created. The Msunduzi Municipality Portfolio Chairperson of the Infrastructure Committee, Deputy Mayor, Mxolisi Mkhize held an important meeting with the Comrades Marathon Association and municipal departments to conduct a route inspection within the Msunduzi jurisdiction. Mkhize said that they discussed the urgent work that needed to be done, such as fixing potholes, cutting of the grass, marking the roads and repairing of street lights. This all to ensure route safety for runners and a pleasant experience for tourists coming into the city at this years' down run. Mkhize also touched on the importance of collaboration and working together to ensure the success of the race. The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) announced a change for the 2025 Comrades Marathon with the introduction of two staggered race starts. This approach aims to enhance the race experience for all participants, with a separate start for each of the two groups of athletes in this year's race from the Pietermaritzburg City Hall. According to the CMA General Manager Alain Dalaisthe, the first wave of runners will begin at 5.45am followed by the second wave 15 minutes later at 6am. This staggered approach will help manage the flow of runners and reduce congestion on the course.
CTV News
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Motorists will need to pay to park on city streets in ByWard Market, Little Italy during the evenings starting this fall
Drivers will soon have to pay to park on city streets during the evenings in the ByWard Market and in parts of Little Italy and the Glebe. A City of Ottawa report recommends extending the paid parking periods at on-street parking spots to weekday and weekend evenings and on Saturdays and Sundays in high-demand areas starting in September, to encourage vehicle turnover in popular areas. The changes will result in $3 million in additional parking meter revenue a year, according to the city. Currently, motorists must pay to park until 5:30 p.m. on weekdays in 18 of 20 zones across the city, and on Saturdays in 10 zones, including in the ByWard Market, Glebe and Vanier areas. A report for the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee meeting on May 20 recommends extending paid on-street parking into the evenings and on Sundays in areas where demand is at 80 per cent for parking spots. Under the plan, motorists will be required to pay for on-street parking until 9 p.m. on weekdays and weekend evenings in the ByWard Market and parts of Little Italy, and paid on-street parking will be extended to Sunday in the ByWard Market, Little Italy and the Glebe. Paid parking will be introduced in the downtown core on weekends. Here is a look at the proposed areas for extended parking hours on evenings and weekends: ByWard Market, King Edward, Besserer and King Edward areas: Paid on-street parking extended to weekday and weekend evenings and to Sunday (paid parking currently in effect on Saturday) Little Italy South (paid parking on Preston Street south of Highway 417 as well as on adjacent streets): Paid on-street parking extended to 9 p.m. on weekday and weekend evenings and to Saturday and Sunday. Glebe South (Bank Street and adjacent side streets between Holmwood Avenue and First Avenue): Paid on-street parking extended to 9 p.m. on weekday evenings and to Sunday (paid parking currently in effect on Saturday) Downtown (between Bronson Avenue and the Rideau Canal, north of Gilmour Street to Parliament Hill): Paid on-street parking extended to Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Glebe North (Bank Street and immediately adjacent side streets between Hwy. 417 and First Avenue): Paid on-street parking extended to Sunday (paid parking currently in effect on Saturday). Parking will remain free during the evening. There will be a two-hour parking limit at paid on-street parking spaces. 'The purpose of paid parking is to encourage turnover which has the effect of making more parking available at any given point in time,' staff said. 'This has the potential for a number of benefits. For example, visitors will have more choices and experience less frustration when trying to find parking at busier times. More available parking will also lead to less 'cruising' for parking, which reduces traffic and the resulting impacts.' Staff say the recommendations for paid on-street parking changes come after a review of parking occupancy data during the spring and fall of 2023 and 2024. 'The data showed that in several paid areas of the city, parking demand was high at different times, including evenings and weekends when there is currently no paid parking,' the report says. 'This suggests a lack of available parking, which has negative implications on businesses and the community as a whole.' Pay parking sign in Ottawa A pay parking sign on a pole on Bank St. in Ottawa. (CTV News Ottawa) Coun. Tim Tierney, the chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, told CTV News Ottawa last month the extended parking hours will be 'very targeted,' and designed to encourage turnover in parking spots. 'It's really to avoid people parking a vehicle and then disappearing for seven hours, where that spot could be used by someone that wants to come down to a nice restaurant, but they only need it for a couple of hours,' Tierney said. 'It's really working to make sure that businesses see more people come through their doors.' Staff note most major Canadian cities charge for parking 'to some extent' in the evening and on Sunday. The new evening and weekend parking charges will begin on September 3, with staff saying it will be phased in over two or three weeks due to the signage and programming changes required. As part of the proposed changes, parking fees for on-street parking permits in the Rideau (parking on Rideau Street and adjacent side streets east of King Edward Avenue) and War Museum (parking on Wellington Street between Portage Bridge and Vimy Place) will be lifted on Saturdays and Sundays due to a lack of demand. Parking on streets in Vanier will be free on Saturday and Sunday, according to the report. Motorists must currently pay at on-street parking spots in the Vanier area on Saturday. Changes in parking hours The report also recommends changes to the on-street parking hours in all commercial areas to harmonize the start and end times. Currently, weekday daytime parking hours start at 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m., depending on the area. If approved, paid parking hours will begin at 8:30 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Paid parking will end at 5:30 p.m. in areas with free weekday and weekend evening parking and 9 p.m. where there is paid on-street parking in evenings. 'The end time of 9 p.m. was selected to promote turnover in the busiest hours while also allowing for flexibility when it comes to people who require longer stays during the evening/at night,' staff said. The City of Ottawa expects the changes to parking periods and extended hours will result in $3 million in new revenues a year. Wellington West/Westboro When the city introduces paid on-street parking in the Wellington West and Westboro area later this year, there will be evening paid parking zones. Staff say motorists will have to pay to park in the Richmond West zone until 9 p.m. Paid on-street parking will also be in effect in the Churchill, Richmond West, Wellington West and Hintonburg areas on Saturdays and Sundays. Councillors will debate the recommendations during the May 22 meeting of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Overnight parking to be banned on some central Queenstown streets
Queenstown Lakes District Council's Infrastructure Committee voted for a parking ban from 10pm until 6am on Park Street. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd At an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Queenstown Lakes District Council's Infrastructure Committee voted for a parking ban from 10pm until 6am on Park Street, and one side of Lake Esplanade. It also voted in favour of a new 'no stopping' rule on a section of Glenorchy-Queenstown Road. Community Requests for Service, sent to the council by residents in March and April, describe "waste everywhere, people cooking, partying, making noise in the small hours" on Park Street. One resident told the council they had counted up to 80 campers parked on the street at one time. The council will investigate parking permits for residents down the track. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd Residents of Lake Esplanade also wrote to council, complaining about people using the reserve as a toilet, hedges as bins and the lake as a place to brush their teeth. The council opted to impose the ban on both sides of Park Street, but only the lakefront side of Lake Esplanade to maintain some parking for its hotels. Council staffers assured the committee it would be possible to explore parking permits for residents down the track. Queenstown deputy mayor Quentin Smith said the rapid rate at which the problem had become worse meant it was imperative to take firm action. Councillor Craig Ferguson agreed it was important to "go hard" on the issue. "Is what we have now what we want our residents to tolerate? Going by the photos shared, and taking a quick look myself recently, down Park Street, dare I say it, for me had shades of Woodstock about it. Which is totally unacceptable." Councillor Lisa Guy said she had a bit of concern that the new night-time rules would be an inconvenience for the council staff to enforce. But she said overall, she strongly supported the overnight parking ban and hoped it would not create unintended consequences for residents. One Park Street resident said they had counted up to 80 campers parked on the street at one time. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd The decision follows a High Court ruling in November, deeming the council's Freedom Camping Bylaw invalid . Council staff said they intend to treat freedom camping as a separate issue to parking - and revisit the Freedom Camping Bylaw down the track. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
