Don't penalise park users over non-users' abuse

Did the National Parks Board conduct any study or collect any data to substantiate its rationale for implementing paid parking at 18 carparks in 12 parks ("Charged parking at parks to regulate usage, prevent abuse "; Thursday, and "Parking at popular park? You'll have to pay"; yesterday)?

Public parks are utilised for family and social bonding, and by those who wish to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

However, there are bound to be black sheep who are not there for such reasons and take advantage of the free parking at the parks.

NParks should be going after the black sheep directly rather than adopting such a sledgehammer approach, which penalises genuine park users.

The agency should study the traffic flow and, only when needed, implement charges, for traffic control purposes.

Bernard Kan

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 25, 2015, with the headline Don't penalise park users over non-users' abuse. Subscribe