Why are shophouse residents allowed to park for free on public roads?

Source : Straits Times – 29 Jul 2009

THE Land Transport Authority (LTA) should explain the following contradictory parking rules.

HDB residents who own cars purchase season parking tickets and park at designated public carparks provided by the Housing Board.

Private condominium residents who own cars pay their property management a monthly maintenance fee to park their cars at designated parking spaces in the compound. Residents in landed property own the land and can park in their properties.

However, in Joo Chiat Terrace, shophouse residents who own cars but do not have parking spaces in the vicinity are allowed to park on the street free of charge.

Why should these residents be given special privileges when there are many public carparks located just round the corner?

Some residents place rubbish bins or a traffic sign to block these spaces when they leave their premises so that only they can use the space when they return.

I am confused by such a practice, which the LTA apparently allows. My understanding is that a road is public property and should be made available to the public, or not at all, for parking.

What makes the situation worse is when maids working for the said owners wash the cars, thus endangering themselves and other road users.

Joo Chiat Terrace and the neighbouring roads need better parking solutions. One option is to build multi-storey carparks nearby.

Frances Phua (Ms)