New parking system gets thumbs up

MPAJ enforcement officers will be carrying out frequent checks from April to enforce the two-hour parking limit. – Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star

FINDING street or municipal parking bays in any commercial area in the Klang Valley is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

In many areas, bays are taken up by shop owners and office workers as it is often the most affordable parking available.

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This means the bays are fully occupied until the end of the day, depriving customers and visitors of places to park.

In view of this, the Selangor government has issued a directive for local councils to implement a two-hour parking system (or hot zone parking) in certain sections of busy commercial areas aimed at improving parking space usage.

Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) was the first to implement the ruling with Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Ampang and Klang municipal councils following suit.

Selangor local government, public transportation and new village development committee chairman Ng Sze Han said there was good response from the public and shop owners in Subang Jaya where the two-hour parking system was introduced.

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“Business has improved, as it is easier to find parking, especially for restaurants where customers need about an hour for lunch.

“There was some confusion during the initial stage (of implementation) but the feedback since then has been positive,” he told StarMetro.

Ng said more operators in commercial areas in Selangor were requesting for “hot zone parking” to be implemented.

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In areas where hot zone parking was already in place, he said the number of bays would be increased.

He added that the zone expansion under MBSJ would take place next month.

Calls for enforcement

Motorist Chen Fong Chin, 46, said nowadays, she did not dread having to run errands in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Subang Jaya, since the system was introduced.

The accountant said there would always be at least one or two vacant bays.

“Previously, I would have to circle around for 20 to 30 minutes hoping for a parking bay to open up,” she said.

Chen added that although she did have to ask someone about how to pay for the designated parking with the mobile app, it was now more convenient to run errands.

A frequent visitor to SS15, R. Sivakumar lauded the two-hour parking initiative but said better enforcement was needed.

“I have sometimes seen vehicles parked in the designated parking bays beyond two hours.

“Only enforcement officers can check if anyone has gone past the time limit so unless they are there, people will continue to try to skirt the rules,” he said.

Fahria Muhsin, when met at the Ampang Point commercial area, said introducing the two-hour parking system in high-traffic areas was a good idea.

“By 8am, most of the public parking bays here are taken up mostly by office workers.

“I had a hospital appointment nearby and wanted to park in the area but it was already full.

“I ended up circling the area four times before finding a spot,” the 27-year-old said.

Field engineer Sallehin Nordin, 33, said having designated bays with a time limit was much needed for those running quick errands.

“Not only here (in Ampang), but most city and commercial areas are facing the same problem.

“Allocating a few bays with a time limit will help bring customers into the area and not deprive those who need the cheaper parking at the same time.”

MBSJ’s two-hour parking limit bays are painted orange and there are signboards to indicate the use of the bays.

Plans to expand

In Subang Jaya, some 2,302 bays have been designated for hot zone parking.

MBSJ Corporate and Strategic Management Department deputy director Azfarizal Abdul Rashid said the hot zone parking system has had a positive impact as it has resulted in low occupancy for the bays.

“This gives more users an opportunity to park in the area.

“Motorists have been complying but compounds and towing can be carried out when rules are not followed,” he said.

On March 22, MBPJ introduced the hot zone parking system at the Section 52 commercial area.

Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Azhan Md Amir was reported saying that MBPJ would extend the two-hour parking limit to the Section 14 and SS21 Damansara Utama commercial areas by end of May.

In Ampang Jaya, the two-hour parking limit has been introduced in only one area – the busy Jalan Memanda commercial district – nearby Ampang Point mall.

Although 10 bays were designated as hot zone parking bays since February, enforcement only begins this month.

StarMetro report on March 23.

MPAJ Public Relations and Secretariat Division head Norhayati Ahmad said leeway was given to raise awareness on the new system.

“MPAJ did not issue any compounds or tow vehicles that did not abide by the two-hour parking limit as long as users paid the parking charges,” she said.

“We have given time for visitors to get used to the idea and will start enforcement.”

She said users could choose the “two-hour parking” option when using the Smart Selangor and Flexi parking apps.

“There will be frequent checks by enforcement officers to make sure the bays are not misused.”

MPAJ intends to expand the hot zone parking system involving 10 bays in the Taman Melawati commercial area sometime this year, Norhayati said.

According to MPAJ records, 45,412 parking compound tickets were issued as at March 15.

It was previously reported that the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) also has plans to introduce a two-hour limit for on-street parking.

Two bays per road will be reserved in 14 high-traffic areas.

According to an MPS spokesperson, the council had submitted the list of proposed locations to the Selangor government to endorse, and it was still in the process of gazetting the amendment to the Road Transport Order (Parking Space Allocation) MPS 2007.