Cars are being removed from the church: Lutherans are taking the roadway from Riga drivers 0 17

This was discussed several years ago. At that time, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate gave a negative review of the innovations.

But now they are set to be implemented: traffic on Gertrudes Street from Brivibas to the entrance of the Old St. Gertrude Church will be closed, turning it into a pedestrian zone. Cars traveling on Baznicas Street will have to detour to the left around the church. Previously, there was a roundabout around the church.

It is difficult to predict how drivers will adapt to all these changes. The only thing that can be anticipated is that cars will circulate through the neighboring blocks. That is, if there are fewer vehicles in front of the church, the flow of cars in its vicinity will increase: they need to get through somehow. Will this increase the volume of fresh air?...

Business owners of nearby establishments have already expressed their opposition to the innovations. And where will the cars of the Ministry of Economics park? It is obvious that a place for the minister, the state secretary, and their subordinates will be found – at the expense of reducing the parking area for ordinary mortals.

Moreover, there were plans to install electric vehicle charging stations on Baznicas Street during the last council term.

Electric vehicles are being squeezed

At the same time, it seems that benefits for electric vehicles regarding curbside parking are set to be reduced or canceled.

It appears that other car owners are also going to have their lives "improved." For example, the fees for long-term parking are expected to increase. This is justified by the fact that parking spaces in the city center are occupied 96% of the time during peak hours. Therefore, to free up space for others wishing to leave their cars, the rates must increase, which will speed up the "turnover" of cars in parking spaces.

There are suggestions that the expensive zone "A" will be expanded by two blocks away from the center, and other parking zones will shift in the same way. It is possible that a parking zone "A" will be created in the "quiet center." It is not ruled out that parking will become paid not from 8 AM to 8 PM, but around the clock.

However, it is said that "short-term parking" may become free. The term "short-term" is not yet specified: is it just to pop into a café and buy a bun, or will there be time to drink a cup of coffee as well?