Sofia parking regulations updated
Sofia’s Centre for Urban Mobility has updated its map of paid parking areas in the central part of the Bulgarian capital city, reflecting changes to parking regulations passed in March, which will enter into force on September 1.
The new regulations introduce a new “green zone” in addition to the existing “blue zone”, the latter covering now only the most central areas of the city, but also doubling in price to two leva an hour. Parking in the “green zone” will cost one leva an hour.
Additional restrictions will apply – motorists will be allowed to park in the “blue zone” only two hours at a time, while parking in the “green zone” will be allowed for four hours straight. The “blue zone” will be in effect every working day between 8am and 7pm, as well as between 8am and 2pm on Saturdays; “green zone” restrictions will be in effect on working days between 8am and 7pm.
Parking can be paid by texting 1302 in the “blue zone” and 1303 in the “green zone”, by buying timed parking tickets from Centre for Urban Mobility ticket centres or mobile controllers, or by purchasing a long-term parking permit for particular spots in the restricted parking areas.
Residents of such areas can also purchase special parking stickers after filing in forms at the Centre for Urban Mobility and proving that they reside inside those areas. The cost of such stickers is 100 leva a year or 10 leva a month in the “green zone” and 150 leva a year/15 leva a month in the “blue zone”.
Parking stickers for a second car will be significantly higher – 450 leva a year for each permit after the first in the “blue zone” and 300 leva a year for each permit after the first in the “green zone”.
The prices of paid parking places reserved by companies will also go up and these will be valid only between 8am and 7pm, rather than around the clock.
A map of the “blue zone” and “green zone” restricted parking areas is available on the Centre for Urban Mobility website (in Bulgarian only).
(One of Sofia’s infamous “spiders”, the trucks used to tow away parked cars without proper permits. Photo: Boby Dimitrov/flickr.com)
