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       Regent Street and Rob Street have a parallel parking policy which has been heavily criticised by people who frequently park on these roads.
       Before the latest traffic police measures, if you walked down Regent Street or Rob Street at 7am, you would see a steady stream of cars parked diagonally on either side. Given the city’s constant congestion and parking problems, diagonal parking reduces the stress of finding a parking space, especially on a one-way street like Rob Street.
       A parallel parking policy is now in place on two major thoroughfares in Georgetown’s central business district, but citizens have criticised the new policy as counterproductive to current congestion and parking problems. One parallel parked vehicle takes up space that could be efficiently used by two diagonally parked vehicles, halving the number of vehicles that can be parked on the street.
       Traffic chief Jan Amsterdam told Stabroek News that police found some of the city’s main roads had become narrower due to diagonal parking.
       So, he said, police looked at the issue and decided “there would be more space on the road if people parked differently”. He noted that the diagonal parking ban had already started on Regent Street and had now spread to Rob Street, where there were also problems with “traffic flow”.
       According to the municipality of Amsterdam, there are plans to extend the scheme to other streets. When asked which streets are being considered, he said Water Street is one of them. He said that these streets are wide to begin with, but when diagonal parking occurs, it narrows the streets and sometimes slows down traffic.
       Acknowledging concerns about the reduction in parking spaces on these streets, Amsterdam said the aim of the measure was to reduce the number of parked vehicles. People are now forced to park their cars elsewhere and walk to their destinations or use paid parking, he said.
       There is currently no paid parking on Rob Street, and there are two paid car parks on Regent Street, but the number of spaces is limited.
       The painting of signs prohibiting diagonal parking is being carried out jointly with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
       ”We need to address the problem of congestion on the roads,” Amsterdam said, stressing that the transport department would also focus on drivers who break the rules and do not use bus stops. He also said that stops on Robb Street, through Burda Market and North Road would be investigated.
       “It is impossible to solve the parking problems we face on a major road like Rob Street. Addressing issues like drainage, road construction and creating more diagonal parking spaces may be more beneficial than introducing parallel parking,” said a city resident who frequently parks on Rob Street. The driver explained that even with diagonal parking, it is sometimes difficult to find a free space, and drivers have to drive around the area several times in the hope of finding a free space.
       “Parallel parking should be banned!” said an auditor who asked to remain anonymous and who frequently parks on Rob Street. “It makes absolutely no sense, why take a place where there might be space and change it to a place where there isn’t, especially on a street like this with so many shops? I think all these high rise buildings should reserve the ground floors for parking. Also, there are parking signs painted on the road now. Drivers have to look straight ahead. But most of the signs are faded and worn. They should have clear signs instead of trying and failing to stop the congestion. Where are people going to park now? Everyone will be fighting for parking spaces and it will be a waste of time and money.”
       ”It’s ridiculous, it’s stupid,” said another driver who regularly parks on Rob Street. “I understand the policy on Regent Street, it’s a two-way road after all, but Rob Street? Pay parking is outrageous!”
       It was noted that the base cost of paid parking in the area is $300, and then $500 per hour.
       Amsterdam’s traffic chief said police would stop or tow away vehicles breaking traffic rules.
       Asked about the penalties for violating the new “no diagonal parking” rule, Amsterdam police said it must first be determined whether the violation is an obstruction of traffic or a violation of a traffic sign. Based on the assessment, the person will be charged and brought to court. Asked whether he would be fined, he said yes, but added that the amount would be at the discretion of the judge.