A year ago a referendum was held in Haarlem about the plans of the municipal administration to introduce paid parking in eleven neighborhoods. A large majority of voters rejected that plan. Now the city council presents a new parking plan: in seven neighborhoods where the parking pressure is highest, paid parking will be introduced for the next five years.
Parking pressure to 95 percent
This is the Ter Kleefwartier, Vondelkwartier, Vondelkwartier in Haarlem-Noord, the Transvaalswijk, Indischewijk, Vogelenwijk, Delftwijk, and the Amsterdamsebuurt in East. In those neighborhoods, the parking pressure is 95 percent or higher. This means that there is a structural parking problem in those neighborhoods: at the measurement moments at least 95 out of one hundred available parking spaces were occupied. In the earlier plan, that parking standard was still 85 percent.
Too high a parking pressure is at the expense of safety and quality of life, according to the college. Because motorists are looking for a spot for their vehicle for a long time, more traffic is created. In error parked cars also hinder the passage.
Canadian parking
The municipality also wants to introduce new rules for ‘Parking Canadian’, with two wheels on the sidewalk. That is now tolerated in many places, but is actually not allowed. In the new plan, Canadian parking is officially allowed in places where there is sufficient space. This is indicated by traffic signs per neighborhood.
It is not yet known where Canadian parking is officially introduced, reports a spokesperson for the municipality. “If the main line applies that this is possible at those places where road safety is not in danger. The sidewalks must also be wide enough to remain accessible to pedestrians and people with a disability after adding a parking space. This means customization per neighborhood and street.”
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