Soon it will no longer be possible to park your car for free in Nieuw-West or Zuidoost. The city council wants to significantly expand paid parking in these areas. According to councilor Van der Horst, parking pressure and the associated nuisance will decrease as a result, but residents are skeptical.
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“No,” replies a resident of Nieuw-West, where parking is still free. “It costs a lot of money and people already don’t have any money.” A motorist says he finds this annoying, although he understands it will free up more parking spaces. “You already pay everywhere in Amsterdam anyway and now you have to pay for that too?”
In Zuidoost and Nieuw-West, the area is being significantly expanded to reduce parking pressure. In the current situation, ninety percent of the parking spaces in these areas would be occupied. When the new plans come into force, an hourly rate of €1.60 will apply in these areas.
The plans were discussed today in the Mobility Committee and could count on criticism from DENK, which fears mobility inequalities. “We are dealing with neighborhoods like De Eendracht, which has been waiting for a bus route for years,” says council member Süleyman Koyuncu. “Due to the huge tax increases, it is precisely these people who are dependent on a car who are taxed extra.”
Lead Councilor Melanie van der Horst (Traffic and Transport) believes it is important in vulnerable neighborhoods that cars do not take up the largest space. “And that it will become safer. Even by reducing the pressure on public space”.
“It’s already a crisis, and then this too will add up,” replies the motorist from Nieuw-West. All new parking schemes are expected to yield €35.7 million a year for the municipality.
“At a certain point there is no more room for everything and for everyone”
“I understand very well that it comes out victorious,” says the commissioner. “But it’s really meant to ensure that the nuisance for the residents eventually decreases and that we can regulate the public space. As it’s getting busier, there will also be more construction there, and at some point there won’t be room for everything and everyone.” , but we want to continue to offer space to the residents there, for whom parking is provided.
Residents of Nieuw-West and Zuidoost can leave their comments until January 20th. The plans will then be presented to the council. The expansions are expected to go into effect at the end of 2024.
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