In Bishkek, the discussion about the introduction of paid parking has been ongoing for ten years, but an effective and transparent system has yet to emerge. Financial resources disappear, and the city still faces traffic jams. The current parking structure does not meet modern requirements, leading to congestion, driving into oncoming traffic, and other traffic violations.
Transport crisis
City service representatives acknowledge that the capital suffers from an excessive number of cars. According to the city hall, there are over 750,000 vehicles in Bishkek daily, while the roads can accommodate only about 350,000.
This creates a significant overload on the transport infrastructure, especially in the city center, where car owners need somewhere to leave their vehicles.
Pilot project: payment via QR code
A pilot project for paid parking has been launched on Ibraimov Street, from Toktogul to Moskovskaya, which has been operational for three months and covers 150 spaces. The municipality has implemented a new payment system using QR codes or terminals.
To prevent unpaid parking, complexes have been installed to capture vehicles, which recognize license plates and record parking times. Informational signs indicating payment rules and possible fines have also been placed.
Bishkek resident Bakyt, who came to the construction market for shopping, used the new payment system: he parked in a free space and immediately went to the terminal.
I like the new system. There are no parking attendants taking money, and it's unclear where it goes. I paid 25 soms at the terminal, and it issued a receipt, so I'm sure the money goes to the state budget.
Bakyt
According to Ulan Kurmanbekov, head of the parking department at the Bishkek city hall, there are currently three pilot parking lots operating in the city that have proven effective, and plans are in place to launch another 11 soon.
However, some drivers continue to leave their vehicles on the roadway, activating hazard lights, which creates additional congestion and hinders the movement of other vehicles.
Unaccounted millions: where does the parking revenue go?
There are 47 municipal parking lots in Bishkek located on major streets. Most of these lots are leased to private companies, making the process less transparent. The number of parking spaces varies from 50 to 200, with a total capacity ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 spaces.
With minimal calculations, if we take 3,000 spaces and multiply by 40 soms, it results in 120,000 soms. However, the actual daily income is likely in the millions, considering the large number of vehicles entering and exiting.
In the case of municipal parking lots, a receipt can be obtained, while private lots do not provide payment confirmation, and funds are often transferred to individuals rather than legal entities. This complicates tracking actual revenues.
Private workers in vests: who masquerades as city employees?
A parking attendant in a vest from one of the municipal departments on Shopokova Street quoted the parking fee: 40 soms for short-term parking and 100 soms for the whole day.
Ulan Kurmanbekov explained that the municipality leases parking areas to private individuals.
“They wear vests with city hall logos, which misleads people. People think they are our employees,” says the official. “In reality, they have no relation to the city hall. They are hired by parking lessees.”
He added that lessees have the right to wear vests with department names, although they do not belong to the municipality.
For example, on Shopokova Street from Moskovskaya to Toktogul, there are about 50-60 parking spaces serviced by three to four attendants. They submit a monthly plan and pay us through the bank.
Ulan Kurmanbekov
He also noted that the city hall aims to eliminate unauthorized parking and automate the payment process so that people know where and for what their money is going.
Deputies propose free 30 minutes and abolishing hourly fees
The city hall proposes to introduce differentiated (hourly) parking fees in the capital. In the city center, a payment zone is planned to be established with fees ranging from 40 to 60 soms in cash, and when paying via QR code, from 30 to 50 soms per hour.
Financial proceeds from paid parking are expected to be directed towards improving the technical condition of parking lots, installing new equipment, and developing urban transport infrastructure.
Recently, a draft resolution on paid parking and zoning proposed by the city hall was sent back by the city council deputies for revision.
The chairman of the Bishkek city council's permanent commission on economy, budget, finance, and investments, Zhanibek Abirov, noted that the deputies proposed to implement a pilot project for 11 months with established costs of 50 soms (zone 1), 40 soms (zone 2), and 30 soms (zone 3).
Additionally, they consider it necessary:
Spontaneous protest: tires and concrete against abandoned cars
After the introduction of a parking ban on some central streets in Bishkek, drivers began to search for alternative spots, leading to the filling of courtyards of apartment buildings, alleys, and secondary streets with cars.
Residents of the area where Gorky and Elebaev streets intersect complain about cars blocking their yards and gates. According to them, owners leave their vehicles all day, obstructing garbage trucks and other vehicles.
Residents are taking various measures to combat this problem: they bring out old tires, place stones, set up concrete blocks, or hang notices prohibiting parking, threatening to puncture the tires of violators.
What else can we do? They park right at the gates: it's impossible to even pass, let alone drive through. And if cars are parked on both sides of a narrow street, it's impossible to get through.
A resident of a Bishkek alley
While the authorities discuss tariffs, residents continue to pay illegal parking attendants, and the city center remains congested. When promises will be fulfilled is unknown.
