Expansion of Priority Parking Spaces for Pregnant Women and Elderly... Passed by Incheon City Council Standing Committee

From now on, in public facilities in the Incheon area, parking spaces designated exclusively for pregnant women will also be available for elderly people aged 65 or older with mobility difficulties and their companions, as well as guardians accompanying two children aged 6 or younger.

On the 7th, the Incheon City Council announced that the 'Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on the Installation and Management of Parking Lots in Incheon,' which was proposed by Shin Dong-seop (National Party, Namdong 4), a member of the Administrative and Safety Committee, has passed the standing committee. The ordinance is scheduled for approval at the plenary session on the 8th.

The amendment integrates the parking spaces exclusively for pregnant women and those exclusively for infants and twins into a single "considerate parking space," and includes elderly people aged 65 or older with mobility difficulties or their companions in the considerate parking space category.

Additionally, while the previous ordinance limited the infant and twin children exclusive parking spaces to guardians accompanying two or more children aged 6 or younger, the amendment broadens this scope to guardians accompanying two children aged 6 or younger.

Currently, the ordinance provides parking spaces for vulnerable road users such as the disabled, pregnant women, and infants/twins. However, unlike the mandatory disabled parking spaces, the parking spaces exclusively for pregnant women and infants/twins are only recommended, resulting in very limited installation.

In fact, among the 27 parking lots operated by Incheon City, there are 13 spaces designated exclusively for pregnant women, while there are none exclusively for infants and twins. This is pointed out to be due to the burden associated with installing parking spaces for specific groups.

On the other hand, integrating the separately installed parking spaces for vulnerable road users into considerate parking spaces makes it easier to expand the number of considerate parking spaces and allows flexible operation to ensure that pregnant women’s parking spaces are not left vacant.

Representative Shin said, "Although higher-level laws recommend installing parking spaces to accommodate pregnant women, elderly people, and guardians accompanying infants, this was not reflected in the Incheon City ordinance. I hope the amendment regarding the installation of considerate exclusive parking spaces will help improve parking convenience for citizens who are vulnerable road users."

Shin Dong-seop, Incheon City Council Member [Photo by Incheon City Council]

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