Policy/Parking

This page sets out a proposed policy for members parking vehicles at rLab. Parking space is one of our most constrained resources and this policy has been proposed to address the issue of fair-use. As of 13th January 2024 this policy is in consultation. We will take stock and test for consensus on 20th January 2024.

Members are invited to propose changes by editing this page. Please log in to the wiki before making changes. If you are making a substantive rather than a cosmetic change (such as fixing formatting or correcting a typo) please explain your rationale in the Discussion tab.

For reference HERE is a copy of the policy in pdf format prior to changes being made here.

Purpose:

The car parking spaces at rLab are for members actively engaged in hacking, making, or working on projects within the rLab . These guidelines aim to ensure fair and considerate use of parking spaces for all members.

Objections: This policy seems designed from the ground up to inconvenience van lifers, while having as little effect on other members as possible.

You can always park outside the rLab if you ask the garage to make a space for you.

Therefore there's no problem to be fixed here, or need for this policy.

Primary Use:

Parking is intended for members while they are on-site and actively involved in their projects. When your active involvement in rLab ends for the day, we kindly ask that you vacate the parking space.

Objections: Why do we need to vacate spaces after we finish hacking?

There's no shortage.

Let's look at an example of why this would be impractical and silly:

If I work on a project during daylight, then want to stay at the Hackspace afterwards to socialise, sleep in my van, then work on the project again the next day, I'm supposed to leave the space for this.

For no good reason. The rLab is a social and a hacking space, but parking should be for one use and not the other? What about the social meet up, I assumed parking isn't allowed for that?

Brief Absences:

Short-term absences (e.g., stepping out for lunch or to purchase supplies) are acceptable, provided you return to continue your project. Prolonged absences for non-Hackspace activities (like shopping in town) are discouraged.

Objections: This seems to be deliberately ambiguous.

Stepping out to purchase supplies is allowed, but not shopping in town?! So, going in to town to shop for (AKA purchase) supplies is acceptable and discouraged simultaneously?

For a rule of this nature to be coherent, a time limit is needed. For example: you're only allowed to be absent from the site with a vehicle parked there for an hour at a time.

Again, there's no shortage of parking, and therefore no benefit to this rule.

Respectful Use:

Please be mindful that parking space is limited and should be used respectfully. This means not occupying spaces for extended periods without active participation in activities at rLab, and not using the space for activities unrelated to your projects (e.g., vehicle repairs that aren't part of your Hackspace project).

Flexibility for Special Circumstances: If you have a project requiring extended use of a parking space or other special circumstances, please discuss this with the Hackspace membership/directors in advance.

Enforcement and Cooperation: We rely on the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect among members to adhere to these guidelines. If issues arise, they will be addressed on a case-by-case basis by the rLab membership/directors .