The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) started the implementation of the 45-day free parking experimental proposal on Lacson Street yesterday.

The experiment will focus on areas near restaurants from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on weekdays, through the entire Saturday and Sunday, and ends at 5:00 a.m. on the following Monday.

It will cover Lacson Street and several areas in Barangay Bata until October 24.

BTAO said the experiment aims to maintain smooth traffic flow while providing car owners the opportunity to park near establishments.

Traffic enforcers will be deployed in the area during the 45-day experiment, and they will not implement clamping or towing.

However, traffic violators will still be penalized.

BTAO will adjust the time if traffic congestion is observed in the said hours.

A report will be submitted to the city council after the 45-day experiment.

Earlier, several business owners said their customers were complaining about the lack of parking spaces on Lacson Street.

Entrepreneurs have also requested the city government to allow them to park in the area./WDJ