Thursday evening, 17 February, during a special committee of the Municipal Council, the college presented its draft of new regulations concerning the issuance of resident parking cards in the centre of Tervuren.

Below is the proposal (excerpts) that the council majority intends to adopt next Thursday:

• The municipality of Tervuren specifies the rules for issuing and using parking permits.
• Residents of streets within the paid parking zone or the blue zone may apply for a municipal parking permit or resident’s card (“bewonerskaart”).
• A maximum of two resident cards may be issued per housing unit.
• A fee of €50 will be charged for the first resident card, and €150 per year for the second.
• Only one resident card may be issued to occupants of a dwelling with a parking space on their own property (garage or driveway); the annual fee for this resident card will be €150.
• Occupants of a collective housing unit with access to parking spaces for multiple cars, with at least one parking space per apartment, are entitled to a first and a second resident card, respectively at €50 and €150 per year, if the building received a final permit before 4 April 2020, inclusive. If the permit was obtained after 4 April 2020, they are entitled to a single card at €150 per year.
• For vehicles over 4.90 meters, the fee is double the amount mentioned above.
• For those eligible for increased intervention in healthcare, the fee is halved.

A service provider or healthcare organization can apply for a parking card in the “healthcare provider” category. The parking card allows a maximum parking time of 2 hours in the paid zone and 4 hours in the blue zone.

Employees of companies or organizations located in the blue or paid zones can apply for an “employee card”. An employee card valid Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. costs €430 per year. An employee card valid every day without restriction costs €650 per year.

Contractors can purchase a “contractor card” to carry out work in the paid or blue zone. With a contractor card, it is possible to park in the paid and blue zones from Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The card costs €35 per month.

NO PRIOR ANALYSIS

The proposal is based solely on the observation that the number of resident cards issued exceeds the number of available spaces. Alderman Bram Peeters did not respond to our question about the financial consequences of the new system. There was also no analysis or survey on the impact of the new rates on the use of parking spaces. The college assumes that with €50 per year, car use will be discouraged. The fact that some employees have to work at night or very early (at times when public transport is not available) is also not taken into account. Even those who use a bicycle to get to work and leave their car parked during the day will now be tempted to use their car.

In short, the measure misses its alleged goal and is nothing more than a new hidden tax hitting the residents of the centre.
Tervuren Unie suggests a new slogan for the college: “Tervuren, where villa owners are welcome.” The others can pay up.

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GARAGE OWNERS

According to the alderman, the fact that garage owners or those with a parking space on their own land can only purchase one resident card, and at the highest rate, is justified because they already occupy a space on public property. His responses to our questions clearly show that the alderman is not well-informed on the matter: a car parked in front of its owner’s garage (if that’s even possible) is not exempt from the rules in the zone. Treating garage owners differently constitutes unfair and disproportionate discrimination, undoubtedly contrary to the fundamental principles of administrative law. Not to mention the discrimination between apartment residents, depending on whether the construction was authorized before or after 4 April 2020! A surreal decision, one might laugh…

A TAX ON LONG VEHICLES

The municipality will need to provide its staff with a tape measure! If the vehicle’s length exceeds 4.9 meters, the rate is doubled! Probably unique in our country! With or without a tow hitch? Let’s be serious… But with the disc, you can park well enough. Go figure.

IMPROVING MOBILITY WOULD BE BETTER THAN LEVYING ADDITIONAL TAXES

That the number of resident cards issued exceeds the number of available spaces is a legitimate concern. But the college shows great cynicism here: how many parking spaces have they eliminated during street renovations? Take the example of St Jan Street. The alderman also did not answer the question about the number of “disappeared” spaces.

But mobility deserves a much more courageous approach: what is the municipality doing to increase the supply of alternative solutions? What is the status of the Ringtrambus project? Has the municipality taken steps to connect tram lines 39 and 44? Why does the last tram from Montgomery leave at twelve twenty? Why are the lights turned off at midnight? What is the municipality doing to associate with the new forms of shared cars or bicycles that exist everywhere in Brussels? What is the municipality doing to restore the bike paths to Brussels or Leuven? There, a response would be appropriate. Also noteworthy is the fact that the Mobility Council (Mobiliteitsraad), at its meeting on 7 February, refused to endorse the proposal.

IN SHORT: A NEW TAX, BUT A BETTER SERVICE IS STILL TO COME

After the introduction of the new system, Tervuren would become one of the most expensive municipalities in the country. Overijse, Hoeilaart, Huldenberg, Bertem do not have a blue zone. In Zaventem, the card is free. In Kraainem, Wezembeek-Oppem, Brussels-Centre, Auderghem, the first card costs €10…

In short: residents of Tervuren centre will have to pay more, but they will not receive solutions or an improvement in their quality of life.

Tervuren Unie will fight this proposal.

“`