Belgrade’s Parking Madness: Weekend Fees and Residents Forced to Circle in Stari Grad!
Belgrade has decided to make parking in Stari Grad even more “fun” – starting tomorrow, new parking zones with fees will apply on weekends too! Yes, you read that right, weekends! While weekends used to be a free parking relief for drivers, now both Saturday and Sunday will be under the watchful eyes of parking enforcement.
New Zones, New Rules – Who Can Keep Up?
Forget the old red zone; now there’s a purple zone with a 30-minute parking limit and no extensions allowed. The yellow zone becomes red, where you can park for one hour, and if you’re in a rush, you can extend for another 30 minutes – but after that, move your car or prepare to pay a fine.
Lower Dorćol, formerly the green zone, is now the white zone with a two-hour limit and the possibility to extend for another hour. The idea is that people who have business in the center can finish their tasks but not stay parked forever.
Weekend Fees – Why Now?
City traffic secretary Bojan Bovan says this is necessary because parts of Stari Grad get overloaded on weekends. People don’t move their cars, residents circle endlessly looking for parking, and the new rules will supposedly help free up spots for others.
Parking prices remain the same but will now be charged from 7 AM to 10 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 7 AM to 2 PM on Sundays. So, no more free weekend parking for those who thought they could park and stroll worry-free.
Residents and Discounted Permits – Is That the Solution?
Residents of Stari Grad still have the option to use discounted parking permits for 1,000 dinars per month. But is that enough to solve the problem? With about 11,000 parking spots in the municipality, 7,000 of which are street spots and the rest in garages, it’s clear there aren’t enough spaces for everyone.
Bovan urges citizens to use public transport, which has been free since January 1st, as the number of vehicles in Belgrade keeps growing and parking spots are limited.
Conclusion: Belgrade or Parking Maze?
The new zones and rules are meant to “help,” but many will agree it’s just another reason for stress and frustration. Weekend fees, residents circling endlessly, and public transport as the only savior – but is that enough?
If you thought parking in Belgrade was already complicated, get ready for a new round. And you, dear readers, what do you think about these changes? Smart move or just another way to empty our wallets? Drop a comment, share your story, or just flash a sarcastic smile – because parking in Belgrade has never been more entertaining!
