The dissatisfaction with the expansion of paid parking zones in Sofia continues. Today, protesters from the neighborhoods of "Hadzhi Dimitar" and "Suhata Reka" blocked the intersection of the "Chavdar" bridge, expressing disagreement with the double increase in fees. Residents are demanding a review of the new zones and parking prices, BNT summarized.
The protesters closed the intersection and continue to insist that their neighborhoods not fall into the expanded green zone, which is part of the new parking reform in Sofia. The protesters are also against the increase in prices for the blue and green zones – from January 5, the blue zone will cost 2 euros, and the green – 1 euro.
They state that they do not want to be part of the green zone, because they do not even currently have parking spaces built and do not believe that the money collected from the zones will be invested in the infrastructure of the neighborhoods.
Earlier, the administration of the Poduyane Municipality issued a position stating that the region is actively working on a program to build local parking lots in the inter-block spaces. The plan provides for over 600 new regulated parking spaces in the neighborhoods of "Suhata Reka", "Hadzhi Dimitar", "Levski V" and others.
In addition, the region is also developing a network of so-called buffer parking lots near the new metro stations – 100 parking spaces at the “Vladimir Vazov“ metro station, 400 spaces at the “Vitinya“ metro station, 100 spaces at the “Chavdar“ bridge, as well as a multi-storey car park in “Sukhata Reka“ with about 160 spaces.
According to Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev, the change is necessary to bring order to the neighborhoods. Both the Consumer Protection Commission and the Ombudsman have taken up the issue.
"I do not support Sofia being turned into a paid parking lot. I don't think this will solve the parking problem and I also think it will just fill the municipality with money that won't be spent in the right way."
"If three of us go into the store and pay for a kilo of cheese, and only one of us gets it on the way out - is that fair to you? If five of us pay for a parking space or a vignette and only one of us can use it, do you think that's fair?"
"Nobody asked us if we wanted this zone. Someone did something without our knowledge. Suddenly we realize that there was a survey.