In possession of an extra long or high car? Then you can be faced with a difficult problem in Loon op Zand. The municipality recently introduced a new rule, with which vehicles above a certain size are no longer allowed to park in built -up areas. Bad luck for one, a relief for the other. “I would prefer to prohibit American pick-ups immediately.”
The municipality of Loon op Zand introduced the rule a month ago after complaints from residents about too large vehicles in the streets. What is too big then? Longer than 6 meters and higher than 2.4 meters. “People think it looks ugly and it can cause traffic -unsafe situations,” says Hans van Zeeland, spokesperson for the municipality of Loon op Zand.
He does make a comment. According to him, there is only action in the event of concrete complaints and reports. “Only then if a vehicle is indeed very unhappy somewhere, can a police officer or BOA refer to the rule. A vehicle can then be moved.”
The rule is not completely new, by the way: it has been in the Kaatsheuvel core for a long time and has now been extended to the entire municipality. For clarification: it is purely about public parking spaces. “Your own driveway does not count”, Van Zeeland emphasizes. “Anyone who has a legal or entrance on their own ground can simply park there.”
“If I put my bus outside the built -up area, there is a good chance that it will be emptied.”
People with a ‘normal’ car do not seem to suffer much from the new rule. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, do. Henk Bruurs has an installation technology company in Loon op Zand and does not understand the rule.
“My delivery van is just a little longer and higher. If we stick to the rule, delivery buses and trucks are not even at our building on the business park, while I just have a permit for that.”
He simply leaves the vehicles. “Otherwise I can’t work. I have just bought a delivery van for dozens of thousands of euros. If I put them outside the built -up area with all materials, there is a good chance that it will be emptied.”
“We think it is normal that metal looks in the streets almost all day.”
The Tilburg Auke Roos would like to see his municipality following the example. He has been bothered by large, incorrectly parked vehicles for years and designed stickers and cards for ‘antisocially parked’ cars in an angry mood.
“I understand that entrepreneurs have to go to customers with a large bus and things, you can’t do that with a cargo bike. There is not my irritation either. It is about cars that are not used but do occupy the street.”
He calls it ‘bizarre’ that cars are so woven into our street scene. “We think it is very normal that there are metal cans in the streets almost all day. You can better use that space for playgrounds or public gardens. I also don’t put refrigerators on the street that I leave day and night?”
“It says:” Fuck you, my car takes up a lot of space. “
He is particularly bothered by large, American pick-ups. “I would prefer to prohibit that immediately. They are way too big, they do not fit in the parking area at the supermarket. In addition, they are also very dangerous. As a driver you do not even see if there is a child in front of your hood.”
Every now and then he makes a round with his stickers in his pocket. “It says:”Fuck youMy car takes up a lot of space, “he shows.” I also made tickets with the text: “You have parked like an idiot.” On the back you can indicate for what reason they have been parked incorrectly. I put it on the windshield. A bit like a joke, but also with a serious message. “