Two members from each Bahraini family will be exempted for paying parking meter fees under updated rules introduced this month.
Last year, as part of a pilot project special stickers were distributed among families in Hoora and Gudaibiya exempting one member from paying the fees.
Limited
The meters have been installed to keep a check on improper occupation of car park spaces on commercial roads in residential neighbourhoods.
“The decision comes to help ease parking woes for Bahrainis living in areas where the meters have been installed for shoppers,” said Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf.
However, MPs have raised concerns that this would drastically reduce the number of car park spaces available for shoppers.
They have also proposed that the ministry look into finding adequate car park spaces for expats in old areas in Manama, Muharraq, Riffa and Isa Town.
Mr Khalaf said that there was a limited number of parking spaces and it generally didn’t correspond with the number of residents in the area.
“We have already worked with the Traffic Directorate to exempt two Bahraini family members from paying for meters.
“The meters were initially installed to organise parking and the exercise was carried out in co-ordination with area councillors and Capital Trustees Board members.”
Parliament public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Mohammed Buhamood told the GDN that numerous complaints have been forwarded by people about available car park spaces.
Fight
“The new rule is good, but the problem is not about money, it has always been an issue with available spots.
“Neighbours fight amongst themselves because they want to park closer to their homes. Most of the troubles start when people come home for lunch and park in parallel with occupied spots.
“The same problem occurs at night and during public holidays.”
He suggested that expats be given parking spots on the outskirts of the neighbourhood and get driven to and from in golf carts provided by their respective companies, if they opt not to walk.
“We have several times asked for vertical automated car parks in open spaces in residential areas, but Mr Khalaf rejected them on the grounds that levers could get jammed and people won’t be able to go to work or attend emergencies.”
The minister rejected the idea in 2019 after a study showed the vertical automated car parks would be too expensive to maintain.
Motorists face a BD50 fine for improper parking or pay and display violations; the fines are halved if a settlement is reached within seven days of the registered offence.
On-street parking is charged at 100 fils per 30 minutes, from 7am until 7pm, with a maximum two-hour stay allowed.
The meters cover 2,400 car parking areas located on nine commercial roads across the country, with each solar-powered device covering 15 car parking spaces at a time.
The hi-tech machines, which are computer-programmable, have been designed for payment by coins.
There were 739,515 licensed vehicles in the country until July this year.
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