'Sidewalk surgery' to create parking lots: Why not?

(Baonghean.vn) - Parking lots and garages are a very important aspect of urban static traffic systems. In Vinh City, this aspect still has many shortcomings, requiring prompt solutions.

Following the first phase of the "sidewalk rescue" campaign, many streets in Vinh City now have more spacious and beautiful sidewalks. However, a new problem is emerging: on many streets, due to cars stopping and parking on both sides of the road, the road width is narrowed. As a result, motorized vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles share the same lane, making traffic flow difficult and causing congestion at times.

Every street in Vinh City has a chaotic situation with cars parked haphazardly on both sides of the road. Photo: Nhat Lan

A key principle in urban transportation planning is the parallel planning of static transportation systems. This means planning and constructing parking lots. Currently, Vinh City, with its limited land, cannot plan for large public parking lots in the inner city. Meanwhile, the number of cars is increasing at a rapid pace. Therefore, the option of "surgically" transforming sidewalks into parking spaces is a solution that needs to be considered.

With the road narrowing, vehicles frequently encroach on each other's lanes. Photo: Nhat Lan

To implement this solution, the leaders of Vinh City need to assign the Vinh City Urban Management Department and the urban infrastructure management unit to review all city streets. Sidewalk "surgery" should only be carried out on sidewalks with sufficient width to ensure both parking space planning and adequate space for pedestrians, while maintaining urban aesthetics.

In the author's personal opinion, there are quite a few streets in Vinh City with sidewalks wide enough for "surgical" construction of parking lots. For example, Le Nin - Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Boulevard (extending from Phuong Dong Hotel to Vinh Airport), Quang Trung Street, Nguyen Sy Sach Street, Tran Phu Street (the section near the Central Park)...

The sidewalks on Tran Phu Street (near the Central Park) are very wide but have not been used effectively. Photo: Nhat Lan

With proper planning, these routes could create numerous parking spaces for Vinh City. Once constructed, these parking areas would help reduce the number of cars parked along the roadside, thereby alleviating traffic congestion while maintaining the city's aesthetic appeal.

In fact, the solution of "surgically" transforming sidewalks to build parking lots has been successfully implemented in several cities. For example, in the cities of North Central Vietnam, Hue has already done so.

A parking lot converted from a sidewalk in Hue City. Photo: Internet

In Vinh City, for quite some time now, parking lots (managed by organizations) have been established on the land along the roadside, proving very effective and aesthetically pleasing. These include parking lots at Ho Chi Minh Square, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Provincial General Hospital, among others.

The parking lot in front of the Provincial People's Committee building is a good option for the Vinh City government to consider for sidewalk renovation. Photo: Nhat Lan

For example, in urban areas belonging to Tecco Investment and Construction and New Technology Application Joint Stock Company and Hanoi Housing Investment and Development Joint Stock Company No. 30 (on Quang Trung Street), although there are some opinions that they are occupying sidewalks, what currently exists shows that these businesses have created a fairly perfect integration of sidewalks, green spaces, and parking areas…

The combination of sidewalks, green spaces, and parking areas in the urban development project by Tecco Investment, Construction and New Technology Application Joint Stock Company is also a good option for the Vinh City government to consider. Photo: Nhat Lan

These examples illustrate that the solution of "surgically" transforming sidewalks into parking spaces has proven effective in practice. Although it will require significant investment of time and money, the Vinh City government should promptly study and implement it.

Nhat Lan