Madrid’s governing board has approved extending the regulated parking service (SER) in the Carabanchel district. The service will reach the Opañel neighbourhood for the first time on 3 November and will be widened in San Isidro, adding 3,161 regulated spaces, almost all reserved for residents. With this change the city will have more than 183,000 regulated spaces in thirteen districts.
What changes
Opañel gets 2,760 new regulated spaces, while a second expansion phase in San Isidro adds 401. The 3,161 spaces approved by the governing board are split as follows:
| Type | Share | Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Green (residents) | 94% | 2,979 |
| Blue (short-stay) | 6% | 182 |
| Total | – | 3,161 |
In Opañel, the regulated area is bounded by the streets of Oporto, Antonio Leyva, General Ricardos, Mercedes Arteaga and Portalegre. The San Isidro phase reaches Paseo de San Illán, Puente de Toledo, General Ricardos and Comuneros de Castilla. The expansion is carried out through a new modification of the SER contract.
Why the city is doing it
The city places the expansion within the Madrid 360 Environmental Sustainability Strategy. The stated aim is to rationalise the use of public space and vehicle parking, improving quality of life for citizens in general and giving special attention to residents.
How the decision was made
Article 57 of the Sustainable Mobility Ordinance allows the SER to be extended only with the prior favourable agreement of the relevant district board, after consulting affected residents and neighbourhood associations. The Carabanchel district board held a public hearing for 15 days from 27 April, and the result was favourable.
What residents need to do
Since 5 October, people registered as residents in the two neighbourhoods can apply for a resident parking permit so they can park without being fined. In the first week of October the city began an information campaign using emails, text messages, posters in residential buildings and leaflets. Permits can be requested on the city’s SER website, by phone on 010, at Línea Madrid citizen offices or at the specialised office at Calle Bustamante 16. The requirements for the resident permit are published on the city’s electronic office.