No More Parking In City Centre An Open Letter to the Traffic Dept

THIS letter serves to express my unhappiness about parking fines to motorists by your officers in and around the city centre.

I am of the opinion that the concerns to be highlighted in this letter are also shared by many other motorists in Windhoek. I would like to know if you are aware of the enormous rapid increase in car ownership in Windhoek in comparison to the available public parking lots in especially the city centre where many people work and visit so often.My question was prompted by the fact that parking fines are on the increase.Let me frankly remind you that the only reason why people park in such areas is not because they are arrogant, but because there is no parking space at all.All parking lots are occupied; even your officer sees that each time they issue such fines.What is one supposed to do? The problem is especially at Wernhil Park, at the side of the taxi rank.This is the side where most motorists like to make a quick stopover for lunch, shopping or park while they go to work in the city centre.The space parking allocated is way too little compared to the number of motorists that visit the town via Wernhil.The very reason why motorists prefer Wernhil side is because it is easy to park your car at a secure informal parking lot.This is a result of the fact that all other parking lots within the city centre are always occupied.This everyone has seen without doubt.The secured parking at the other side of Wernhil (southern side) is also always full.This is a problem for all city residents.Besides how many people would afford such parking? The price is N$3 per hour.So if I have to park my car there to go to work it would cost me about N$27 per day.I would also like to raise another annoying aspect which is when students and staff at Polytechnic of Namibia who are issued with parking fines during the examination time at the School of Engineering campus.The reason why the parking space ran out is because even part-time students had to attend the examination sessions.I think that sometimes your officers have to be told or trained to use own discretion to assess the situation.People are there to strive to develop the country, are they supposed to park at Wernhil (where they will get tickets anyway) then walk to Polytechnic? Is that the way to achieve vision 2030? Can you confirm that we have many more motorists visiting or working around the city centre every day than we have the public parking lots? Do you at the City have statistics on approximately how many cars visit the city centre daily in comparison with available space? If not let’s start thinking about compiling such statistics Lastly, I would like to stress that I am not against traffic rules and regulations at all.However, some people should not be made victims of things beyond one’s control.I would suggest that if there is no parking area available at all and if the traffic officer sees there is no parking space left, the fees for offenders under such circumstances should be lowered to a reasonable amount.The second suggestion is to avail enough parking areas with immediate effect.Penda Shilongo Via e-mail Note: This letter has been shortened – EdI would like to know if you are aware of the enormous rapid increase in car ownership in Windhoek in comparison to the available public parking lots in especially the city centre where many people work and visit so often.My question was prompted by the fact that parking fines are on the increase.Let me frankly remind you that the only reason why people park in such areas is not because they are arrogant, but because there is no parking space at all.All parking lots are occupied; even your officer sees that each time they issue such fines.What is one supposed to do? The problem is especially at Wernhil Park, at the side of the taxi rank.This is the side where most motorists like to make a quick stopover for lunch, shopping or park while they go to work in the city centre.The space parking allocated is way too little compared to the number of motorists that visit the town via Wernhil.The very reason why motorists prefer Wernhil side is because it is easy to park your car at a secure informal parking lot.This is a result of the fact that all other parking lots within the city centre are always occupied.This everyone has seen without doubt.The secured parking at the other side of Wernhil (southern side) is also always full.This is a problem for all city residents.Besides how many people would afford such parking? The price is N$3 per hour.So if I have to park my car there to go to work it would cost me about N$27 per day.I would also like to raise another annoying aspect which is when students and staff at Polytechnic of Namibia who are issued with parking fines during the examination time at the School of Engineering campus.The reason why the parking space ran out is because even part-time students had to attend the examination sessions.I think that sometimes your officers have to be told or trained to use own discretion to assess the situation.People are there to strive to develop the country, are they supposed to park at Wernhil (where they will get tickets anyway) then walk to Polytechnic? Is that the way to achieve vision 2030? Can you confirm that we have many more motorists visiting or working around the city centre every day than we have the public parking lots? Do you at the City have statistics on approximately how many cars visit the city centre daily in comparison with available space? If not let’s start thinking about compiling such statistics Lastly, I would like to stress that I am not against traffic rules and regulations at all.However, some people should not be made victims of things beyond one’s control.I would suggest that if there is no parking area available at all and if the traffic officer sees there is no parking space left, the fees for offenders under such circumstances should be lowered to a reasonable amount.The second suggestion is to avail enough parking areas with immediate effect.Penda Shilongo Via e-mail Note: This letter has been shortened – Ed