Balen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Balen, illegal parking on sidewalks, intersections, and crosswalks endangers pedestrians. Alderman Werner Hens announced a 2-week police check in May 2025, with flyers and posters raising awareness.
People in Balen, a municipality in Antwerp, Belgium, are upset about illegal parking. They say cars are parked on sidewalks, at intersections, and near crosswalks, making it hard for people to walk safely.
Authorities said this is particularly risky for children, the elderly, and the disabled, who have to walk on the street because the sidewalks are obstructed. Citizens are worried about the security of their areas and want action taken against this issue.
“Incorrectly parked vehicles often create dangerous situations.”
Werner Hens (Vooruit), Alderman for Mobility
How will Balen tackle illegal parking this May?
The city of Balen is taking steps to make roads safer for everyone. Alderman Werner Hens explained that illegal parking is such an issue since it compels people to trek within the road, is inconvenient to bikers for them to journey safely, and clogs walkways. He added that around schools is worst since children and parents get into danger in cases of congested drop-offs and pick-ups.
The city is committed to fixing this by telling people about the problem and by giving out more tickets to people who park illegally. Their goal is to make sure everyone can walk around safely and easily, especially people who are most vulnerable.
For 2 weeks in May 2025, police will be checking for cars parked in the wrong places. They’ll be looking for cars parked against traffic, in spots that aren’t for parking, on sidewalks or bike paths, and in spaces for people with disabilities.
They’ll also be looking for cars blocking bus lanes. People like Joost, who see this happen near an ATM, think this is a good idea. They hope this will make it easier for everyone to get around safely.
“I see that many people just park on the road and don’t even move to the side,”
says Jan.
“They turn on their turn signals. Instead of parking 5 meters further. It’s not that hard. There’s always space.”
The city of Balen is checking cars that are blocking bus lanes. They’re going to start checking in May, but before they start giving tickets, they want to teach drivers about the rules. They’ll put flyers on cars that are parked incorrectly.
The flyers will explain why it’s dangerous to park illegally and ask drivers to park better. They’ll also put up posters at schools and stores to remind everyone about the rules. The city wants people to park better, not just get tickets. They want everyone to be safe and have an easier time getting around.
