The introduction of a "red zone" for paid parking in the ideal center of Sofia is a half-hearted solution and pits some citizens against others. This was stated by Ivan Takov, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Transport and Road Safety and the Local Coalition "BSP for Bulgaria" in the Sofia Municipality. He added that this is just one of the reasons why the Socialist group did not support the report of "Save Sofia" for changes to the Regulation on the organization of traffic on the territory of the Sofia Municipality. The document was considered today at an extraordinary joint meeting of three of the commissions in the Sofia Municipality - on transport and road safety, on finance and budget, and on economy and property, and was postponed.
"The regulation on the organization of traffic on the territory of the Sofia Municipality is absolutely ill-conceived. It is a piece of cake and has been like that for years now. This regulation does not fundamentally solve the problem of parking in the city, commented Ivan Takov. And what is being proposed by "Save Sofia" is not a reform in parking. The expansion of paid parking zones and the increase in prices may seem like a reform only in Boris Bonev's head. For us, this is a restriction on the right of some Sofia residents to park in the city center. The Bulgarian Socialist Party has never supported such proposals, and we will not do it now. Because we care about the people. Unlike Andrey Zografski, who publicly stated that the purpose of their proposed changes is, I quote: "to refuse every idiot from coming with a car to park in the city center".
Ivan Takov added that "Save Sofia" is supposedly a party with emphasized social views and supposedly works for the convenience of all citizens, and with its report with proposals for changes to the Regulation on the Organization of Traffic it introduces additional class division. "The introduction of a "red zone" will benefit people who live in the ideal center of Sofia. And those who work in this perimeter will be severely punished. And all this given that both those who live and those who work in the center have the same contribution to maintaining the infrastructure - they all pay road tax. This is extremely unfair and pits some citizens with rights against other citizens with rights, he said. - The opposition is also along another line - between rich and poor. Those who can afford to pay 50 leva per day will park in the center. The rest will not be able to".
Ivan Takov also noted that the report does not provide sufficient clarity regarding the financial costs associated with the changes in the Regulation. "Save Sofia" does not apply a detailed financial analysis, there are no forecasts for expected revenues or expenses. All proposed innovations are not justified and protected by research and analysis, he said. - When there is a proposal for radical changes, it must be categorically protected. And the benefits must be absolutely indisputably proven. There is no such thing in the Save Sofia report. Quite the opposite - it rather creates new problems and provokes many more questions than providing answers and clarity and, above all, solving the problem of parking in the city".
The chairman of the transport and road safety committee in the Sofia City Council added that the solution to the parking problem in Sofia should not be sought piecemeal and separate from the overall transport plan in the capital. "BSP has been opposing half-hearted solutions for years, which will ultimately lead to the city turning into one big paid parking lot," commented Ivan Takov, who is the chairman of BSP - Sofia and deputy chairman of BSP. - Of course, there should be clear regulation on parking, but it is related to improving public transport, which should be safe, regular, convenient and accessible for use. There should be enough and convenient parking lots and only then should we think about gradually introducing restrictions and penalties, which are in practice the current parking zones".
The chairman of the Local Coalition "BSP for Bulgaria" in the Sofia City Council compared the proposals of "Save Sofia" for changes to the Regulation on the organization of traffic on the territory of the Sofia Municipality with that for low-emission zones. "It is much easier to introduce restrictions and penalties than to find a comprehensive solution to a major problem, such as the one with the organization of traffic in Sofia," commented Ivan Takov. - The regulation for a zone with low emissions of harmful substances is a half-hearted solution. If you have money for a new car, you will be able to enter the center. If you don't - you get a ban. The same is with the "red zone" - if you have money, you will park in the center. If you don't - you get a ban. And people who live in the ideal center are given the opportunity to park their cars in the "red zone" for a symbolic annual subscription. And here is the other important point - parking and car parking are two completely different categories that must be considered separately and the most practical solutions must be sought so that they are not clashed and opposed.
Ivan Takov added that he is categorically against the funds from paid parking going to the budget of the Sofia Municipality. "They should go into the Central Municipal Budget and be used to improve parking conditions, build parking lots and support work to improve the quality of public transport and its development," he said. - Ultimately, parking problems are no longer only in the center. In Studentski Grad and in "Lyulin", for example, it is a real nightmare. And the solution is not at all the introduction of paid parking zones - they simply postpone dealing with the problem and transfer it to another place. We need a very clear plan to improve public transport and build parking lots that will provide a good enough alternative for citizens so that they prefer to get out of their cars because it is more convenient and profitable for them".