A small price to pay for improvements

WE in Penang can be a pretty fussy lot. We gripe when there is no rain, we grumble when the haze crosses international boundaries to our airspace, and now we lament again about our New Parking Timing.

The Penang Island City Council implemented a new set of Parking Timing in Penang for all parking lots within the purview of the local council as 8am to 6pm on all days, including public holidays except Sundays.

At a glance, one may point to the unfairness of having to pay for parking at 8am just as I am enjoying my breakfast before work, or parting with the extra 80 sen each time I make my morning purchases at the wet market. Previously, one had to pay from 9am onwards.

As for paying parking fees on public holidays, in some areas, we used to have to pay fees every day including public holidays and Sundays. And from 9am till 9pm. So the present situation is better.

The other matter is the earlier wellintentioned zoning by colour – Red, Blue and Green – with varied parking days and timing. That was superconfusing then to both locals and visitors. It was done in consideration of the surroundings – for example, a Green zone which would be near office blocks, would be closed on Saturday past noon and the whole of Sunday, hence motorists would enjoy free parking at those times plus weekday nights.

Now, under the new timing, parking fees apply from 8am to 6pm.

However, how many employees will be at those parking lots by 8am and leave at 6pm? Chances are, most who come early to enjoy the limited parking spaces in the commercial areas in town will leave early. Again, it is a matter of paying 80 sen per working day. Multiply that roughly by 260 working days a year, and it comes up to RM20.80. Just around an additional RM21 to pay per year, which goes towards the eventual betterment of our city.

The real benefit for all motorists in Penang is now the standardised timing of 8am till 6pm. Plus the bonus of free parking on Sundays.

That brings us to the pertinent matter raised by some quarters on why parking is still collected on public holidays. I believe it is a giveand take situation. The city council has done away with the parking timing of the dreaded Red zones which extended till 9pm in the past.

These zones are normally adjacent to popular night eateries where motorists still pay parking, which in turn works out to be a deterrent for those looking for free parking, who will choose to avoid these lots, making them available for motorists who are willing to pay.

However, we now enjoy hasslefree parking at dinnertime every single evening past 6pm. Of course, there are still the odd jaga kereta boys, which is a topic for another day.

Normally, such places that we frequent on public holidays are the public attractions or eateries which would have been in a designated Red zone anyway.

Agreed, there are equally many areas within the Georgetown Heritage Area that will fall within the New Parking Timing, but only the additional hour, or hours, till 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays, respectively.

It’s a small price to pay for the betterment of the whole system. Definitely more boon than bane for me.

BOO SOON YEW Penang