Right road must be taken on Hong Kong parking
Bowing to vested interests when it comes to proposed rises in fees and fines does not pay, particularly in a small city with 700,000 registered vehicles
Two dollars for 15 minutes, eight dollars for an hour – this is the price to pay for occupying a roadside parking space in a city where land is gold. Bafflingly, the level has not been raised for more than two decades, giving rise to abuses and other transport woes. The case for a major increase is well justified. Regrettably, the government is not known for being resolute when it comes to tackling parking problems. Just months ago, it bowed to vested interests and abandoned some long overdue increases in fines for illegal parking. The U-turn does nothing for the authority of a can-do government.
In what is said to be a step to help relieve traffic congestion, the Transport and Housing Bureau has proposed doubling the maximum metered parking fee to HK$4 or HK$5 per 15 minutes.
At the same time, existing meters are to be replaced by those with smart payment and remote access functions. Real-time information on vacant parking spaces will also be available to save drivers from roaming around. The upgrade will cost taxpayers HK$304 million.
If a British study is any reference, up to 30 per cent of the traffic congestion in London is said to be caused by vehicles looking for on-street parking. The Hong Kong government believes the fee increase will discourage prolonged parking as well as motorists circulating or double-parking on roads as they wait for metered spaces.