Residents have complained about a growing number of cases in which some shop owners in markets and commercial districts across Amman have been occupying public parking spaces by placing physical barriers to prevent others from parking. They say the practice deprives the public of access to parking intended for everyone and contributes to traffic congestion and disruption.
Several citizens said some business owners prevent them from parking outside their shops, claiming the spaces are reserved for their customers or that parked vehicles interfere with business activity, even though the parking spaces are located on public streets and are available for public use.
Citizen Mohammad Khatalin said the practice of reserving public parking spaces has become increasingly common in several commercial areas, with shop owners using traffic cones, chains, and other barriers. He noted that this forces motorists to search for parking farther away to complete their errands and called for stricter enforcement and the removal of all unauthorized obstructions.
Meanwhile, citizen Mohammad Amin Al-Halahlah stressed that public streets and parking spaces belong to everyone and cannot be claimed by any individual or entity. He added that allowing such violations to continue ultimately harms commercial activity itself by making shopping less convenient and urged authorities to enforce the law against anyone who encroaches on public facilities.
For his part, Muath Al-Hadid, Director of the Media Center at the Greater Amman Municipality, affirmed that placing barriers or obstacles to reserve public parking spaces constitutes a violation that will not be tolerated.
He said the municipality is monitoring such practices through its field teams, removing unauthorized obstructions, and taking the necessary legal measures against violators to safeguard citizens’ right to use public facilities.
Al-Hadid added that the majority of shop owners comply with regulations by refraining from encroaching on public streets or placing barriers to reserve parking spaces. He called on business owners and the public alike to abide by the laws and regulations and to avoid occupying public parking spaces, which are intended to serve everyone.
Preserving public parking spaces and preventing unauthorized occupation helps improve traffic flow and ensures fair access to public facilities, in line with the laws and regulations governing the use of streets, sidewalks, and parking areas throughout the capital.
Petra
