PARKING lots vary in size depending on location and how cars are to be driven in. For example, they can be parallel, perpendicular or diagonal to the kerb for street parking, or to a wall inside buildings.
If parallel to a kerb or wall, the width of the parking lots can be narrower but the length must be longer.
This is because other cars will not be parked alongside that could cause obstruction, but would need sufficient space at both ends for cars to be driven in and fit inside the parking lots.
Similarly, parking lots must be wider for perpendicular parking, as cars could be parked on both sides, but their lengths can be shorter. Although this design is the most popular, I am against it, as it is accident-prone, especially for street parking.
While sheltered five-foot ways (kaki lima) are built for people to stroll past traditional shophouses, some stretches can be illegally used for operating business, forcing pedestrians to walk on the streets meant for vehicles when sidewalks are also taken up by hawker stalls.
This is when walking against the traffic is more dangerous. While oncoming traffic can be seen ahead, drivers reversing their cars may not notice these pedestrians, as they too are looking in the same direction, and would quickly reverse their cars when there is a break in traffic.
Hence, I am advocating for diagonal parking, which motorists can only drive in, and when exiting later, to reverse and then drive away. Otherwise, it is annoying to wait for a car to reverse into a perpendicular parking lot when they could drive straight in without holding up traffic behind.
If they prefer to reverse in for an easy exit later, it is all well and good if there are no other cars behind them. If not, they are just being selfish and are likely to drive in the same manner on the road by holding traffic behind, whether they are on the inner, middle or fast lane.
Then there is double parking, which is common in popular areas with acute shortage of roadside parking. It is acceptable if these drivers run to their cars upon hearing honking, but not if it is prolonged. Leaving a phone number and expecting those affected to call them will not do.
Those who think only the poor live in “Program Perumahan Rakyat” (PPR) flats ought to visit one of them and be surprised by the number of cars parked around them even during working hours. Many families own more than one car and a large number do not even have to go to work.
PPR Perkasa is near the MyTown Shopping Centre anchored by IKEA Cheras and 2.8km from Tun Razak Exchange (TRX). Here, many drivers prefer to double park their cars even when perpendicular parking lots are empty so that they don’t have to push away cars when exiting.
But the worst are motorists living in Perumahan Awam (PA) Sri Sabah flats on both sides of Jalan Ikan Ayu off Jalan Cheras. Even after a multi-storey car park was built for them, drivers continue to park their cars alongside this main road with double white lines running at the centre.
In February last year, fire engulfed six apartments in Block 70, but parked vehicles hindered the fire and rescue team from reaching the units swiftly. Mercifully, no lives were lost. Apathy of both residents and City Hall have resulted in motorists parking indiscriminately and obstructing traffic.
However, my blood boils when viewing the photos of a clamped car parked in a private parking lot as reported in “Motorist cries foul after her car is clamped for ‘crooked’ parking at Republik TTDI” (Focus Malaysia, May 23). It was an flagrant example of high-handedness.
The rear right tyre of the car was on the yellow line of the designated parking lot, but next to it was an empty space where no cars could come near or people would walk pass.
It was like a small piece of unused no man’s land, where no one could be obstructed or inconvenienced.
I myself regularly park in this way in a shopping centre that I frequent, as every floor has a similar parking lot at one end. I did so to give more space to another driver who wishes to park beside my car. I have never been admonished for ‘crooked’ parking by someone with a crooked mind. ‒ May 26, 2025
YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: The Star/Amanda Lee
