Rajiv for Malaysia

SUBANG JAYA

TWENTY months after 'successfully introducing the onehour parking limit system in the Taipan commercial zone at USJ 10 here, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has extended the system to heavy traffic areas, such as USJ 15, USJ 16 and USJ 17, and next to be covered could be Puchong Jaya and Bandar Kinrara.

"We plan to amend our bylaws under the Road Transport Act 1987 so we could extend the hour long parking system to new areas," said council deputy president Abdullah Marjunid yesterday.

"Since we launched the onehour parking system on a three-month trial basis in USJ Taipan from January 2010, we have found it to be effective as motorists have to vacate their parking spots within an hour or risk having their vehicles clamped."

He said those who needed to park longer could use the multi-storey car park in the Taipan commercial zone.

The council's public relations officer Asfarizal Abdul Rashid said once the hour-long parking system is implemented in heavy traffic areas, parking should be less of a headache.

Council enforcement officer Ainul Sani said there were 1,800 parking bays at USJ Taipan and illegal double-parking is at its worst from 11am to 2pm during working days.

"Our tow trucks roam this area. Motorists who frequent this area are well aware of the risk of having their vehicles towed away if they doubleparked," he said.

"USJ Taipan is meant to be a pedestrian boulevard where double-parking inconveniences other motorists and pedestrians alike."

In a random survey at USJ Taipan yesterday, The Malay Mail found motorists generally supportive of the one-hour parking system.

Kevin Nam, 35, a USJ 15 resident, applauded the council's enforcement for the one-hour parking system.

"Those who do quick errands will find paying 50 sen for an hour of parking reasonable rather than paying RM2 to RM3 per hour at private car parks," he said.

"However, double-parking remains a constant problem due to inconsiderate motorists."

To encourage offenders pay their current and outstanding summonses, MPSJ extended its RM10 discount period, which began earlier this year.

This grace period ends later this month.