Tesla driver's 'ridiculous' footpath act outrages Aussies
Many have slammed the electric vehicle owner for their inconsiderate decision yet a larger problem may be at play.
A Tesla drivers's haphazard attempt to cover up their electric vehicle's charging cable over a footpath has caused anger online for the obvious accessibility issue it creates.
The cable appears to come from inside a residential property in Melbourne's inner city and crosses the footpath to the black car parked on the street. A makeshift wooden bolster has been placed on top, causing a clear obstruction.
"This is ridiculous," the passerby wrote online. "Why do electric car owners think they have the right to obstruct the public footpath so they can charge their private property?"
Aussies fume at the 'trip hazard'
The walker shared images showing how the charger and its wooden bolster completely impede the space available for walking, with some questioning how those pushing prams or with wheelchairs would be able to get by.
"It's a worse trip hazard than just the cable," one wrote, while another said a simple "cable cover in Bunnings" would have sufficiently concealed the charger without causing such a large obstruction — with an image shared of how neatly electric vehicle (EV) chargers can be positioned on a footpath if one is used.
Some EV owners unable to charge at home
Many city residents who have EVs are unable to charge their car at home as the lack of private off-street parking available results in such footpath obstructions. The City of Melbourne website states those without private parking facilities will 'need to use public charging points' instead — communal chargers which are installed by local councils for the use of all EV owners.
It continues by stating public on-street chargers may be installed in residential areas in time and the council is currently in the process of deciding where this is best appropriate. However, many EV owners have pointed out the logistical issues posed by this, rather than the time-efficient solution of simply charging their vehicle at home while they are home too.
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In some council areas like Port Philip, south of Melbourne CBD, can be fined up to $960 for obstructing a footpath with a charging cable.
"Charging an electric vehicle (EV) with a power cord running across a footpath, road or nature strip breaches our Local Laws and poses a risk to public safety, including for those who are visually impaired," Port Phillip Council Mayor Heather Cunsolo told Drive.com.au.
However, with many cities around the world outlawing petrol and diesel cars in a bid to find more environmentally-friendly solutions — with many Aussie states considering similar bars — the EV market is growing and so is the need for EV chargers, with many car owners saying better solutions need to be provided if governments are encouraging the uptake of EVs.
"This is a bad outcome but let's not blame them for the occasional emergency charge," one wrote online, defending the EV owners charger across the footpath. "The failure is broader and more complex than this."
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