A resident of Zadar's Peninsula expressed frustration in an interview with Slobodna Dalmacija because tourists occupy all seven spots in Zone 0 all day, despite rules allowing them a maximum stay of one hour.
This summer, the parking nightmare on Zadar's Peninsula has reached a new level. Residents living there have been witnessing a paradox for weeks: a zone primarily intended for them is under constant occupation by tourist vehicles. One resident, whose nerves, as he puts it, have simply given out, shared his dissatisfaction in a phone interview with Slobodna Dalmacija.
"I'm here, going home. And I've been looking for parking on the Peninsula for an hour already," the visibly frustrated resident began, adding: "Go ahead, laugh. For those of us living on the Peninsula, it's no laughing matter."
The problem centers on the parking lot below Carina, on Istarska obala, where the City of Zadar has designated the so-called Zone 0. According to the official description, it is "primarily intended for Peninsula residents with a privileged card, while other drivers are subject to a maximum time limit of one hour." Payment and enforcement are handled by the city company Obala i lučice, every day, including weekends and holidays, from 0 to 24 hours.
During the summer regime, which runs from June 15 to August 31, non-residents pay €1.60 for that one hour. However, the interviewee claims the rules are massively violated. "In the parking lot for seven cars, tourists' cars are parked," he said. "Exactly. But they don't stay for one hour-they stay all day!"
The key issue, according to the resident, lies in the ineffectiveness of fines. "What good is a fine when they can still stay there all day for €35?" he asked, drawing a sharp comparison with another tourist destination: "In Dubrovnik, one hour costs €20."
His frustration is such that he ironically suggests changing the rules. "The picture shows that all seven spots are occupied by 'others.' So it seems the sign should be changed to: Zone Zero only for 'others,' and residents can park for one hour."
According to the resident, they have repeatedly tried to escalate the issue to the city administration. "We begged Erlić several times to leave Zone Zero only for residents. He promised, but nothing happened," he said. The reason cited for the lack of a quick solution is the wait for a comprehensive traffic study. "Apparently, we're waiting for a complete solution from the Faculty of Transport. Some traffic study. Okay, but that's no reason not to make this small decision tomorrow and implement it," the interviewee concluded.
The conversation was abruptly cut short when the resident spotted a vehicle leaving a parking spot. "See, that's why I called you. My nerves gave out while looking for parking! Wait, one is leaving now... I have to go, talk to you later!" were his last words before he rushed off in pursuit of a rare free spot.
