Calling for action to be taken against the rent-a-bike vehicles being parked in municipal property, a councilor of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has reportedly questioned how such bikes are being allowed to be parked there when the common man struggles to find park space for their vehicles.
It must be said that rent-a-bike and rent-a car vehicles parking in parking spaces meant for the citizens has become a problem not only in the commercial capital but in other cities as well. Parking space has become scarce as a result of an increase in the number of private vehicles on the roads. The lack of parking space is compounded as a result of parking of rental vehicles. Many of these vehicles are parked throughout the day or until such time that the vehicle is rented out. The vehicles are seen parked especially in the market-place, leaving very little space for parking of vehicles by the shoppers.
When there are designated areas in the cities for parking of taxis and cabs, why is there no area earmarked for parking of these rental vehicles? Since these vehicles are used for business purposes, the operators of rental vehicles could be charged parking fees. This will bring in revenue for the respective civic bodies. There could also be a system wherein the operators of rental vehicles are charged a monthly fee for parking their vehicles in the cities’ parking areas.
