This article is also available in:
Русский (Russian) 
Uzbek
Parking in Tashkent is a real puzzle, especially in the city center. Instead of following the rules and parking their cars in a single line parallel to the edge of the roadway, drivers prefer to park their cars at an angle, creating chaos and serious problems for all road users. The most obvious consequence of this improper parking is the drastic reduction in street capacity. Cars parked at an angle take up more space than if they were parked parallel to the road. As a result, drivers block second lanes, making traffic slow, unsafe, and highly inefficient.
Why is this a problem?
Improper parking leads to a multitude of negative consequences in Tashkent. Narrowing the roadway due to randomly parked cars reduces the number of available lanes for traffic, which is especially critical on narrow streets. Traffic jams become endless, worsening transport accessibility and increasing travel times.
Another serious problem arises for emergency services. Improperly parked cars often block access for ambulances, fire trucks, or law enforcement to necessary locations. In such situations, every minute counts, and violations like these can lead to tragedies. In Tashkent, it has become quite common for fire trucks to be unable to reach a burning building because cars block the second lane, or for ambulances to be unable to pick up a patient because access to the house is blocked.
Pedestrians also suffer from this chaos. When cars take up sidewalks, people are forced to step onto the road, which is especially dangerous for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Chaotic parking threatens their safety, creating risks at every turn.
Constant traffic jams also increase the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Blocked lanes force drivers to spend more time moving at low speeds, which increases fuel consumption and air pollution. This directly affects the health of residents and the quality of life in the capital.
Economic losses are also significant. City shops, cafes, and restaurants lose customers because blocked streets make access difficult. This reduces foot traffic and, consequently, business revenues. Traffic delays also reduce the overall efficiency of the city’s operations.
In addition, the city’s aesthetics suffer: streets filled with improperly parked cars lose their appeal and charm. Tashkent’s streets, which could be green and spacious, turn into makeshift parking lots.
How can the situation be fixed?
The experience of other cities shows that the problem of improper parking can be solved through strict measures. For example, in Moscow, when the city faced a similar situation in the early 2000s, the authorities implemented a comprehensive approach, including paid parking and strict towing of violators. These measures significantly improved the situation on the roads.
In Tashkent, the introduction of paid parking along roads and the construction of multi-level parking garages has long been discussed, but these ideas have yet to be implemented. Paid parking in the city center could limit the number of cars and restore order to the streets by motivating drivers to park properly.
There is also a need for a unified towing service that would promptly remove improperly parked cars. Towed vehicles would be sent to impound lots, and owners would have to pay large fines for their return, serving as a serious incentive to follow the rules.
On the most problematic streets, cameras should be installed to record violations in real time. Fines for improper parking would be issued automatically, increasing driver discipline.
Redistributing urban space could also play an important role. Tashkent needs a study to help properly allocate parking spaces in different areas, create special zones for the disabled, and designate parking for commercial vehicles, making the system more flexible and fair.
Driver education is equally important. It is necessary to explain why it is important to follow parking rules and promote responsible road behavior. Clear markings and signs will help make the system more transparent for all road users.
Improper parking is not just an inconvenience for other drivers, but a serious threat to the safety, environment, and economic development of Tashkent. Only through joint efforts of authorities, traffic services, and drivers themselves can the city be saved from transport chaos and a comfortable, safe environment for all residents be created.
The text has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please refer to the Russian version of the article
