City of Espoo to restrict parking in winter and spring based on pilot trial results

The main goal of the trial was to facilitate snow ploughing and springtime grit removal. Although there was very little snow last winter, the restrictions still made street maintenance easier in the pilot areas. Espoo will now extend seasonal parking restrictions to all narrow, hard-to-maintain streets across the city.

Resident feedback called for easing parking restrictions

During the pilot trial, parking was banned in some areas for the entire winter and spring seasons, which residents criticised in particular. In addition, the permitted parking time on some 24-hour parking spaces was reduced to four hours. This restriction was seen as problematic especially by remote and shift workers and by households with multiple cars.

Residents expressed a preference for an alternative where parking restrictions would apply only one day per week. The feedback gathered during the trial has been taken into account in designing the permanent measures.

In the future, a specific weekday and time slot will be designated for street maintenance, during which parking will be banned or restricted. A vehicle removal request will be in effect one day a week between 8:00 and 16:00 during the winter and spring seasons. The specific weekday will vary by area. In addition, the restriction period will be shortened by one month compared to the pilot trial: restrictions will apply from 1 November to 30 April.

New traffic signs to be installed before winter

Before next winter, new traffic sign combinations will be installed in residential areas, specifying the exact weekday and time when the vehicle removal request applies. The combination of signs will depend on whether the street is a no-parking zone, a restricted-parking zone, or a zone where parking is normally allowed. All sign combinations will indicate a parking ban on a specific weekday between 8:00 and 16:00 from 1 November to 30 April. The specific weekday will vary by area.

1. In no-parking zones, a vehicle removal request sign (I15) and an additional panel indicating the time restriction will be added to the parking space sign (E2).

2. Restricted-parking zones will have either the above combination (E2, I15 and an additional panel) or a no-parking sign (C38) together with the vehicle removal request sign (I15).

3. Zones where parking is usually allowed will have a no-parking sign (C38) with an additional panel indicating the weekly one-day restriction during winter and spring. 

A map of streets with winter and spring parking restrictions has been published on the City of Espoo’s website. However, the restrictions must always be verified from the traffic sign on the street, which defines the actual parking rules in force.