Brussels plans to ban diagonal and angled parking in city streets

Vehicles in the capital will be restricted to parking parallel to the road in the future, according to new ‘Good Living’ urban planning rules being studied by the Brussels region.

Angled and diagonal parking will gradually disappear, said Brussels state secretary for urbanism Pascal Smet.

Only a maximum of 50% of the road will be reserved for personal motor personal vehicles. They will all be restricted to the parking method, which is considered to take up the least space, offer the best visibility for drivers and greater safety for other users, including cyclists.

The new planning rules will apply to all roadworks that require a building permit. Each year, some 2% of the roads in Brussels undergo redevelopment. Diagonal and angled parking spaces will be gradually phased out as streets are updated.

However, the ‘Good Living’ rules have yet to be definitively approved by the Brussels government. The green light is expected in the summer of 2023, before being submitted to parliament. Smet hopes to see them being applied from 1 January 2024.

Photo: © Belga/Eric Lalmand