Updated: 01/05/2014 22:43 | By Channel NewsAsia
Residents launch campaign against illegal parking in Tiong Bahru estate
SINGAPORE: To curb illegal parking in the Tiong Bahru estate, some residents have taken to the streets to let motorists know of alternative places they can park their vehicles.
The area has become more popular in recent years with new eateries and cafes - but this has also led to parking problems.
On Sunday, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Indranee Rajah and residents distributed pamphlets to get motorists to park their vehicles legally.
The pamphlet detailed the location of nearly 700 parking lots in the estate.
This includes an open-air carpark at Blk 78 Moh Guan Terrace, and parking lots along Eng Watt Street and Eng Hoon Street.
Banners will also be displayed to remind motorists to park considerately.
The campaign - "Is this your grandfather's road?" - is organised by Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) and Seng Poh Residents' Committee (RC).
The campaign also serves as a platform to further explore the historical background of the estate as every road in Tiong Bahru is named after a pioneer of Singapore.
Over the past couple of years, some additional carpark space has been added in Tiong Bahru and some season parking lots converted for public use.
Despite this, residents still feel that the traffic congestion situation hasn't improved.
The MP of the area said this could be due to the fact that drivers are not aware of the availability of parking lots.
Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State for Law and Education, and MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, said: "If you have to park a little bit further and walk 100 metres, it's not too far. You can have enforcement but enforcement is a cat-and-mouse game. You are always having to chase up the people parking illegally. It'll be so much better if people can park properly on a voluntary basis, and that's really about civic education." - CNA/de
