Illegal locks symptom of city's parking problems
By Zha Minjie |
July 19, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE competition for parking spaces in Shanghai has gotten so heated that some private car owners are starting to install illegal locks at spaces along public roads they rent for parking.
The metal contraptions are secured to the roadway and can be folded down when the person renting the space parks. They pop up and block anyone from using the roadway space when they are not there.
Residents complained recently after finding a car owner had occupied the road with locks in Hongkou District.
Two locks were found in their upright position on Zhuzhou Road inside a chalked line framing the parking spot.
Nearby residents said they fear the locks will create tension between drivers and more of them will be installed.
"It's hard to see them at night," said one car owner. Others called the locks selfish and dangerous, noting that pedestrians may fall over them.
Officials with city traffic administration said public roads usually are not open to private cars for parking. But, given the shortage of spaces, the authority authorizes companies to rent spaces on the roads in certain locations and for certain hours.
The rate for leasing spaces is usually 6 yuan (US 94 cents) to 10 yuan an hour during the day and eight yuan at night.
In the case of the locks on Zhuzhou Road, the district parking company said it will investigate and demand removal of the locks for occupying public resources. Fines or stronger measures in such cases have not become common.
Shanghai's parking problems are acute. More than 1.2 million private cars use downtown roads. About 270,000 cars have no proper places to park during the night, even though residential areas are always crowded with private cars, traffic officials said.
In downtown Jing'an District near Plaza 66, cars parked beneath the office buildings waiting for office workers to come out often block buses from coming through.
The city encourages companies and institutes to open parking lots to residents during the night to help handle the shortage.
The city government also plans to increase parking spaces both in business zones and residential areas in downtown Shanghai in the next five years.
According to a new parking draft regulation, residents who live in the area of commercial buildings inside the Inner Ring Road area will be allowed one space for each household.
Residents have been urged to consider whether there are nearby available parking spaces before buying a vehicle.
The metal contraptions are secured to the roadway and can be folded down when the person renting the space parks. They pop up and block anyone from using the roadway space when they are not there.
Residents complained recently after finding a car owner had occupied the road with locks in Hongkou District.
Two locks were found in their upright position on Zhuzhou Road inside a chalked line framing the parking spot.
Nearby residents said they fear the locks will create tension between drivers and more of them will be installed.
"It's hard to see them at night," said one car owner. Others called the locks selfish and dangerous, noting that pedestrians may fall over them.
Officials with city traffic administration said public roads usually are not open to private cars for parking. But, given the shortage of spaces, the authority authorizes companies to rent spaces on the roads in certain locations and for certain hours.
The rate for leasing spaces is usually 6 yuan (US 94 cents) to 10 yuan an hour during the day and eight yuan at night.
In the case of the locks on Zhuzhou Road, the district parking company said it will investigate and demand removal of the locks for occupying public resources. Fines or stronger measures in such cases have not become common.
Shanghai's parking problems are acute. More than 1.2 million private cars use downtown roads. About 270,000 cars have no proper places to park during the night, even though residential areas are always crowded with private cars, traffic officials said.
In downtown Jing'an District near Plaza 66, cars parked beneath the office buildings waiting for office workers to come out often block buses from coming through.
The city encourages companies and institutes to open parking lots to residents during the night to help handle the shortage.
The city government also plans to increase parking spaces both in business zones and residential areas in downtown Shanghai in the next five years.
According to a new parking draft regulation, residents who live in the area of commercial buildings inside the Inner Ring Road area will be allowed one space for each household.
Residents have been urged to consider whether there are nearby available parking spaces before buying a vehicle.
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