What does a yellow parking space line mean?
2 Answers
Parking spaces are divided into the following 4 types based on color: Yellow parking space: Exclusive parking space; White parking space: Paid parking space, currently the most common type of parking space, can be seen on almost every road. Among them, solid white lines indicate no time restrictions for parking; dashed white lines indicate time-limited parking, with specific times as marked on the parking space. Blue parking space: Free parking space, but with time restrictions, which will be indicated on the road surface or on signs specifying the free parking periods. Green parking space: Only available in a few cities, such as Nanning, these are time-limited free parking spaces designed to meet short-term parking needs, addressing temporary parking requirements for shopping, errands, etc. Areas where parking is not allowed: Yellow no-parking markings on the shoulder are used to indicate areas where roadside parking or stopping is prohibited. The length of the marking indicates the extent of the no-parking zone. Yellow grid lines are used to mark areas where parking is prohibited for any reason, typically applied at intersections, entrances, and exits where temporary parking could cause traffic congestion. Within 30 meters of bus stops, gas stations, emergency stations, and in front of fire stations, temporary parking is not allowed. At intersections, railway crossings, sharp curves, narrow roads less than 4 meters wide, bridges, steep slopes, tunnels, and within 50 meters of these locations, parking is prohibited. On road sections with separation facilities between motor vehicle lanes and non-motor vehicle lanes or sidewalks, as well as at crosswalks and construction zones, parking is not permitted.
When driving, I often see various parking space markings, especially yellow line parking spaces, which basically mean you can't park here casually as there might be strict restrictions. For example, a solid yellow line by the roadside indicates a complete no-parking zone—parking there will get you photographed for a fine or even towed. In parking lots, yellow lines might indicate special-purpose spaces, such as those reserved for specific vehicles like disabled drivers or emergency services, or time-limited parking areas. I remember once mistakenly parking in a yellow-lined space and ended up with a 200-yuan fine and wasted time. Yellow lines are mainly set up for safety, commonly found near schools, hospitals, or busy traffic areas to prevent congestion and accidents. Fellow drivers should get used to observing the colors: white lines mean regular parking, while yellow lines require extra caution.
