Parking in Clausen “worse than it has ever been!”

(CS) While the City of Luxembourg together with local police had announced a crack-down on parking violations in Clausen earlier this year, local residents say that the situation is “worse than it has ever been.”

In April this year, then-mayor Xavier Bettel had announced that police would issue fines against motorists queuing for the “Brasserie” car park when it is full and blocking adjoining roads in Clausen.

Additionally, the presence of traffic wardens was increased to deter people from illegal parking in the area. Now, three traffic wardens are on duty until 3am on Wednesday to Saturday nights and until 11pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.

However, residents of the area say that not much has changed.

“Initially it got much better,” said one resident, who wished to remain anonymous, to wort.lu/en. “For a while there were no issues at all. It was a relief.” Some eight months later, the situation is looking less rosy, with the same resident saying that the situation is “worse than it has ever been” with bars and pubs busy during the festive season.

“The car park fills up by 7pm on an almost daily basis and the tailback goes as far back as the Montée de Clausen,” he commented, saying that residents are frustrated by a lack of available parking but also being stuck in traffic with public transport.

“People don't care”

For newly-appointed member of the Luxembourg City council Sam Tanson, who takes over the transport dossier from François Bausch, the problem is a tough nut to crack as long as Clausen partygoers don't start using public transport.

“People don't care,” Tanson said speaking to wort.lu/en, adding that many would rather face a fine than use the free shuttle between the Glacis car park and the Rives de Clausen or other public transport.

“There is a great alternative in place,” according to Tanson, who added that she “cannot understand” why people would rather be stuck in a traffic jam than get on a bus.

However, the alderwoman for mobility and traffic circulation also acknowledged the fact that the problem was far from solved, saying she empathises with residents disturbed by the traffic chaos.

“We follow the situation,” Tanson said, adding that another meeting would have to take place between City authorities and police if problems continue in the new year.

Tackling the symptoms, not the cause

For police, meanwhile, the situation is also difficult. “Being stuck in traffic is not technically illegal,” said Daniel Back, deputy director of the police's Luxembourg City unit. Still, police try to move motorists waiting for the car park along, issuing fines against the most stubborn of drivers.

However, it is not possible for the local police to monitor the situation at all times, with traffic officers on site for only a couple of hours on Friday and Saturday nights, when the car park is most overrun, as more pressing offences await elsewhere in the capital.

Echoing Tanson's sentiments, Back said that it is a “simple selfish problem,” as drivers don't care about residents or the traffic mayhem they are causing. In the end, the controls carried out on weekends might help alleviate the symptoms, but do not tackle the cause of the issue, Back concluded – cold comfort for residents bothered by the situation.

The latter propose a presence of traffic police in the evenings to manage circulation and help residents and buses make their way through the busy streets, as well as putting up signs alerting drivers that they should not queue for the car park when full and running a larger promotion campaign for the public transport services on offer.