The "Streets of Haifa" group started a move aimed at improving the experience of pedestrians in the public space. On Tuesday 21/05/2024, the first meeting of the group was held, which decided that its initial goal would be to return the sidewalks to pedestrians by reducing vehicle parking on the sidewalks. This is an organization that operates in several cities in Israel, with the Jerusalem group signing several achievements regarding parking on sidewalks in the city.
Enforcement of parking on the sidewalk at all hours of the day
The main part of the conversation dealt with the plight of pedestrians, when they walk on the sidewalks and the parking situation on the sidewalks in the city. The group stated that its main goal is a change in enforcement, meaning that the municipality will enforce parking on sidewalks at all hours of the day and ensure that the sidewalks are free. The group referred to the fact that the experience of the pedestrian consists of a number of issues such as accessibility, security, lighting and more, but they decided to start the activity with parking on the sidewalks.
Elderly people who don't leave the house
One of the participants said that in Hadar there are elderly people who do not leave the house after 17:00, because they know that the sidewalks are not free, and they do not want to go down to the road. "All road users are being pushed because of the vehicles. It is important to me to have a safe sidewalk to walk on, without having to go down to the road."
The WhatsApp group of "In our streets"
The participants talked about the WhatsApp group of "In our streets" which has grown a lot in the last few days since it was distributed in several WhatsApp groups. According to them, this shows that the issue is significant for many Haifaites and it is time to act, when there is a new - old leadership in the city. The person who convened the meeting, Carmel Givon, presented data that he received from the freedom of information law officer at the municipality, according to which in the years 2021-2023 the amount of traffic reports that were registered decreased from 21,244 in 2021 to 13,532 in 2023.
Parking violation enforcement policy
The members of the group talked at length about the policy of enforcing parking violations by the municipality and whether there are parking violations that are enforced more than others. Regarding one issue, there was complete agreement among the group members - parking on the sidewalk is not enforced at all or hardly enforced. According to them, it is a matter of education and because today drivers know that there is no enforcement of parking on sidewalks, they allow themselves to park on the sidewalks.
The members of the group had no doubt that if the municipality would start giving fines to vehicles that park on sidewalks, the phenomenon could be eradicated or greatly reduced. They talked a lot about how parking on sidewalks endangers pedestrians, who find themselves forced to get off and walk on the road, and impairs their experience of public space. Those who are particularly affected are parents with strollers or disabled people in wheelchairs.
The situation in Haifa compared to other cities
During the entire meeting, the participants compared the situation in Haifa to other cities. Some talked about the Tel Aviv municipality, which enforces parking on the sidewalks and really greatly reduces the phenomenon, and in addition it has a hotline, which is active 24 hours a day to receive complaints, and some mentioned Nahariya and its wide sidewalks that allow many pedestrians to walk side by side.
One of the main solutions the group thought of was an appeal to council members in order to find supporters for the idea, who would be able to raise a question in the city council and flood the issue. The purpose of the query is to get the municipality to enforce the parking ban on the sidewalks and also to get an answer regarding the municipality's policy. The participants in the meeting said that there are issues that the municipality will enforce tomorrow and at night, such as parking at an active bus stop. On the other hand, parking on the sidewalk is enforced much less and not at all hours of the day.
Those who park on the sidewalk are exempt from payment
The participants in the meeting talked about the fact that those who park next to a sidewalk, which is marked in blue and white, have to pay, but those who park on the sidewalk are exempt from paying. Another topic that came up for discussion is places where drivers regularly park on the sidewalk or stand on the side of the sidewalk and delay traffic. Two of the participants appealed to the municipality to put bollards in these places and prevent parking, but they answered in the negative. Another issue that came up for discussion is that sometimes you get an answer from 106, that a vehicle parked on the sidewalk is no longer parked there, but in practice the vehicle is still standing on the sidewalk and obstructing.
The dual role of the Haifa Municipality
At the end, the participants talked about the dual role of the municipality - both providing the parking and enforcing the violations. According to them, if they had managed the parking issue more correctly, there would also be fewer parking violations. For example, if a parking ticket on the street was more expensive, there would be residents, who would not purchase it, and then there would be more free parking spaces. They emphasized that the pedestrian is being pushed in favor of the vehicles and those who suffer the most from this are the disadvantaged population.
Let them go to Shoham Street in the evening,
There they will see what a mess there is!
also parking on the sidewalk,
and double parking on the road,
And also parking in red and white.
I was almost run over by a car when I got down to the road...
Blocking sidewalks with giant vehicles has become a constant nuisance for everyone
For those who want to walk, run, for children on their way to school who take to the roads, for mothers with strollers,
For the disabled, for adults who have to squeeze between vehicles and bushes when vehicles go on sidewalks or have to go down to the roads and risk themselves to get out of the building
It is a shame and disgrace that the municipality of Harfa-Haifa does not enforce something so basic.
It's not just that housing prices in Tel Aviv are several times higher - the city there is a city and not one big parking lot. Just this week, two intersections that crossed Rothschild Boulevard were blocked there for the benefit of pedestrians.
Tel Aviv deals with car criminals who block sidewalks - in Haifa, like wild boars, there are steer pigs.
Any solution must be integrated, both for the benefit of pedestrians and for the benefit of car owners. It includes a significant improvement in public transportation that will eliminate a large part of private vehicles, on streets where there are no parking spaces at all parking should be arranged on only half of the sidewalk and on narrow streets shuttles (minibus) and not buses, which often block the street because of their size. Today there is no balance between all these needs and usually it comes at the expense of pedestrians.
Dear Yaron, no parking on half the sidewalk and not even a quarter. The sidewalks are intended for pedestrians, they are not a parking solution for the many vehicles in the city. Those who do not have parking should take buses like 40 percent of Haifa residents. You are not privileged people who must take care of a parking space for their car because they bought a car.
If vehicles block half the sidewalk, the pedestrians will go and block half the street and we'll see how you manage.
There is no such nonsense in any city in the world. In no European city will you see a car parked with two wheels on a sidewalk blocking a mother with a stroller or a disabled person in a wheelchair from the sidewalk because he didn't see that 5 meters behind him there is a sign that doesn't leave enough room to pass.
If this is the answer of those who were council members, then it is no wonder that the situation in Haifa is nauseating.
As long as the municipality does not provide organized parking lots, it is impossible to complain to the drivers. Where does the municipality want the vehicles to be parked??
The municipality wants you to park your car at home and take a bus.
You are welcome to sell it if you don't have parking. If a bus is not good for you, order a taxi.
The audacity of the residents of this city that the sidewalk is a parking space for them already exceeds all limits.
They are camping. at crossings and stations. . Because their time is precious. They compete like baboons. . The women too.
I am... an elderly woman, living on Keren Hayesod Street - Haifa, occasionally returning at night from social events. Driving around my home area for long minutes and... parking, there is none!!!!!
You have to park up the steep street and risk my body with a long walk to my place of residence... (a week ago, I fell and injured myself!!!).
Along the sidewalk, many cars are parked....despite the ban!!!!
What should I do????
Looking forward to your reply.
Thanks.
Nira 0507482850.
Dear Nira Gor - there are buses, taxis and shared rides.
If you don't have a parking space, it's time to say goodbye to the car or learn to walk a little,
Like you probably do in Europe when you walk 5 minutes to the tram or metro station and don't complain, right?
And I say to the car owners: park on the road! What is the problem??
Oh... you're afraid because in a minute they'll come and tow your car,
So the weak are abused, mothers who have to go down a busy road with a baby carriage, the elderly and poor children and block their sidewalk
I do not accept the excuse that the municipality does not solve the parking crisis, absolutely not, there are many crises that the municipality is responsible for solving and people do not dare to break the law because of the crisis, you live in Haifa and need to be aware of this problem.
The only solution: hard-handed enforcement, reports and reports and reports again and again, until people learn!
interesting. The parking crisis in the city is extremely difficult, and no one cares to take care of it.
As a direct result, car owners are forced to park where they can - that is, on the sidewalk.
So instead of treating the root of the problem, it's easiest to give fines.
Nice for you.