The City of Santa Cruz has initiated a public consultation aimed at drafting a regulated parking ordinance within the municipality. This initiative seeks to gather input from individuals and key organisations who may be impacted by the forthcoming regulations. This administrative process is available on the municipal website under the citizen participation section and will remain open for submissions of proposals until 7th March.
The mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez (CC), stated yesterday that, “this public participation will help address the issues this initiative aims to resolve, the necessity and timing of its adoption, the goals of the proposal, and potential regulatory and alternative solutions.” He further noted that “parking regulation is an essential tool for enhancing the quality of life for citizens and ensuring harmonious coexistence among various transport modes in Santa Cruz.”
Additionally, the Councillor for Mobility, Evelyn Alonso (CC), mentioned that “the aim is to create an effective mechanism for achieving goals such as the regulation and management of urban traffic, allowing local authorities to oversee traffic on their roads, including monitoring and penalising parking and circulation infractions.”
The mayor highlighted that, “these regulations will ensure a fair distribution of parking spaces, allowing for rotation in areas with restricted parking and prioritising the needs of individuals with reduced mobility. Furthermore, it aims to implement corrective measures that give local authorities the power to immobilise or remove vehicles that are poorly parked, obstruct circulation, or violate limited parking rules.”
Demand
Alonso emphasised that “it is important to consider that the municipality has 65,000 parking spaces on the roads and experiences a significant influx of vehicles from other areas, which increases the demand for parking among non-residents, alongside the high levels of mobility between neighborhoods, exacerbating the need for available spaces.”
The consultation highlights that “the identified needs present an opportunity to optimise public space through appropriate regulation, facilitating the redistribution and effective management of spaces to ensure fair access for residents, visitors, and individuals with specific requirements, such as those with reduced mobility or delivery vehicles.” It also mentions that “introducing measures such as tariffs or regulated parking would help improve turnover in high-demand areas, freeing up spaces for new users and reducing illegal parking.”
Moreover, it is crucial to consider that the aim of the regulated parking ordinance is to ensure efficient and fair utilisation of public space, enhance urban mobility, minimise illegal parking, and encourage vehicle turnover, with a priority for residents’ needs. Therefore, the implementation of an area with blue rotation and green spaces for residents will not only benefit local residents by guaranteeing their access to nearby parking but will also increase turnover in commercial zones.
