Bilbao is set to modify its parking ordinance again, nearly two and a half years after its initial launch, aiming to "improve it" and "incorporate suggestions" received by the city government from citizens and neighborhood associations over time. The proposed changes were presented last Tuesday, and the period for municipal groups to submit their objections opens today.
The City Council's objective is to secure initial approval of the text in the June plenary session, allowing it to be ratified "after the summer" following a public review period. Following Nora Abete's initial outline of some of the rule changes, the Councilor for Mobility and Sustainability participated again yesterday in an extraordinary commission to address queries and present further modifications.
Permit for Businesses: The Council will allow holders of "essential" businesses – such as greengrocers, supermarkets, and pharmacies – located in "upper neighborhoods" to obtain a permit for parking their vehicles in green zones within the "quadrant" where their shop is situated. Businesses in Arangoiti, Peñascal, Uretamendi, Larraskitu Sur, and Larraskitu Norte, areas with "less access" to public transport, will be eligible. "This has been a repeated suggestion. They told us that the OTA prevented them from parking their vehicle during all the hours their shop was open. We are proposing the modification so they are not forced to close," stated Abete. Pending potential changes, the ordinance will stipulate that only business owners have the right to request the permit.
Re-parking in a Zone: Bilbao will allow a vehicle to be parked again in the same OTA zone for the maximum permitted time: three hours in the city center and up to five hours in the peripheral green zone. Currently, the system requires drivers to move to a different area – for instance, from the center to the periphery – to park again after leaving their car. This was detrimental to those who needed to visit multiple locations within the same area during a morning or afternoon.
Spaces at Health Centers: The City Council will reserve parking spaces at health centers "wherever possible" to facilitate parking for people with reduced mobility and their companions. This will "in no case" lead to the removal of special parking spots for disabled individuals. Patient companions will have 15 minutes of free parking, and individuals with reduced mobility will have one hour.
Loading and Unloading Zones: The new OTA will permit individuals with reduced mobility to park for 15 minutes in loading and unloading zones to ease their parking when reserved spaces for them are occupied. Vehicles must display the European parking card for people with reduced mobility on the dashboard.
Restrictions for 'Riders': One of the measures in the ordinance modification involves limiting parking for motorcycles associated with economic activities, such as those used by food delivery couriers. The proposal is to prevent these motorcycles from parking in blue and green zones to avoid occupying space, allowing them only in designated motorcycle areas.
Vehicles for Renovations: Greater flexibility will be provided to vehicles belonging to individuals undertaking activities like renovations, repairs, installations, or maintenance. These users will be allowed to park in green zones without time limits when "their stay does not reasonably exceed 30 minutes," the limit for loading and unloading. To use these areas, they must possess the corresponding permit for their activity (DES-A) and purchase a day ticket (TD).
More Permits: The regulation will introduce three new parking permits: the TEP card, for vehicles with special authorization for public space use; the TCS, for parking in areas the Council will reserve near health centers; and the REG-M registration, for non-driving individuals with a European parking card for reduced mobility.
Reduced Mobility: The City Council has ruled out, however, incorporating a payment exemption for people with reduced mobility in the new regulations. What has been modified is the information required from disabled individuals when parking their vehicle in an OTA space. Previously, the system requested the license plate and parking card number; now, the national ID (DNI) and license plate will be requested.
No Change to Maximum Parking Time: Bilbao launched its new OTA in December 2023, with a key change being the establishment of two parking zones – intensive and peripheral – each with its own time limits. In the city center, vehicles can park for a maximum of three hours, while in the peripheral green zones, they can park for five hours. None of this is intended to change. The text to be voted on again in the plenary will continue to include the same time limits. Payment for OTA during midday in the intensive zone will also be maintained. Therefore, visitors to the city center will still need to purchase a ticket from 9 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Friday, and from 9 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays.
