Can I park in the marked areas on the roadside?
3 Answers
In areas with circular prohibition signs featuring a blue background, a red circle, and a diagonal line inside the red circle, temporary parking is allowed. If there is a red cross inside, it indicates no parking or temporary parking. Yellow dashed lines on both sides of the road indicate that temporary parking is permitted. If the road has solid yellow lines, parking is prohibited. Additional information: 1. Areas where parking is not allowed include: sections of the roadside marked with solid lines; areas with no-parking signs; all sections of highways; intercity expressways; strictly controlled urban roads; within 50-100 meters before and after intersections; major urban thoroughfares. 2. Areas where parking is allowed include: temporary parking spots (marked with signs); paid parking spots; marked parking spaces on the roadside (white lines); sections of the road without solid lines on the inner side where temporary stopping is permitted.
I've been driving a taxi for many years. Parking in the marked areas by the roadside is of course allowed, but you have to pay attention to the color and type of the lines. Solid or dashed white lines usually indicate free parking spaces, suitable for short stops. Yellow lines are absolutely to be avoided—they mark no-parking zones. Last time I parked there by mistake, I was fined several hundred. Blue lines mean paid parking, and you must pay on time. Additionally, there might be time limit signs nearby, such as '30-minute parking only' or 'night parking only.' Remember, rules vary slightly from city to city, so it's best to look around before parking to confirm there are no prohibition signs. For safety, I always remind my newbie colleagues not to lose big for small gains—following the rules can avoid accidents or getting towed, making driving much smoother.
When I first got my driver's license, I used to park wherever I saw road markings, which cost me a few times. Once, I parked by a blue line near a shopping mall, forgot to scan and pay, and got a ticket directly. Another time, I was warned for temporarily parking in a yellow line zone. Later, I learned that different colors represent different permissions: white means you can park, blue means you need to pay, and yellow means no parking. Most road markings on city streets are reserved spaces for vehicles, but you need to check the road signs as well. Now, I use navigation apps on my phone to check real-time parking information or ask passersby to avoid mistakes. Beginners shouldn't follow my recklessness—stay vigilant, and parking issues can be easily resolved.
