Two bikes were evacuated, and fines were issued to five other owners. These are the results of another raid conducted by the police in Ubud. They are attempting to address the issue of traffic jams. Chaotically parked scooters and cars often cause traffic congestion.
According to the rules, parking on the side of the road is prohibited on major tourist routes. This includes Jl. Raya Ubud, Jl. Hanoman, and Jl. Monkey Forest. However, there are still many violators of this rule, so such raids will be repeated. However, the police claim that their current task is not so much to collect fines as it is to disseminate information about the prohibition to the public. After all, even the Balinese themselves often do not comply with this rule, so it's not surprising that tourists simply don't know about it. Signs are also rarely taken into account, considering the fact that parking is chaotic almost everywhere in Bali, except for paid parking lots.
"We continue to identify violations. After the celebrations of Galungan, Kuningan, and Nyepi, violations tend to increase," said the head of the transportation department, Ganiar Made Arianta.
One of the main reasons the problem persists, he said, is the lack of parking spaces near shops, cafes, and offices.
"Many people are not used to parking far from their destination. This is one of the reasons why bikes are left on the roadside. This is mainly done by Indonesian citizens. At the same time, foreign violators claimed that they were unaware of the prohibition on roadside parking around Ubud," added the Head of the Transportation Department.
Motorists also often violate the rules, arguing that they are waiting for passengers. Another significant reason, according to drivers, is unloading goods. However, here the police have nothing left to do but to conduct explanatory conversations since suitable parking spaces simply do not exist.
"Our long-term plan is to provide parking spaces; in the short term, we conduct raids and provide guidance. Both police officers and representatives of the local community participate in our activities through pecalang," noted Made Arianta.
"We need awareness and support from all sides to ensure that Ubud is free from illegal parking," he added.
Currently, in Ubud, there are two areas where the police offer drivers to park - the parking lot near the Monkey Forest and the car park at Lapangan Astina Ubud. Although the latter is more of a field than a parking lot, it was decided to allocate it for temporary parking to relieve the streets of Ubud. Not all car and motorcycle enthusiasts use this parking lot yet, so there are always available spaces there.
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