Support us

Alternate-side parkingWorldwide

Learn traffic rules with clear explanations and visual examples in our illustrated book, designed to make studying simple and engaging.

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
Worldwide

87. Alternate-side parking

Alternate-side parking is a parking system in which vehicles must park on different sides of a street at different times or on different dates. The system may be used to keep streets accessible, distribute parking or allow activities such as street cleaning or maintenance.

The applicable side may change daily, weekly, monthly or according to another schedule. Drivers must check the local signs and rules carefully, because the timing and method of changing sides differ between countries and municipalities.

Alternate-side parking sign, no parking at days 16 to 31. (Saint-Just, France)
Wikimedia.org • KiwiNeko14 • CC BY-SA
What is alternate-side parking?

Alternate-side parking requires vehicles to park on one side of a street during a specified period and on the opposite side during another period. The applicable side is normally determined by traffic signs or local regulations.

Why is alternate-side parking used?

It can help maintain sufficient road width, distribute parked vehicles between both sides of a street and provide access for street cleaning, maintenance, snow removal or emergency vehicles.

When must you move a vehicle to the other side?

The changeover time depends on the local rules. Drivers should check the signs carefully because some systems require vehicles to change sides at a particular time or on specific dates.

1 Worldwide 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Built-up area 6 Zone 7 Speed limit 8 Minimum speed 9 Advisory speed 10 Footpath 11 Bike path 12 Shared-use path 13 Separated path 14 Pedestrian warning 15 Tunnel 16 Bridge 17 Cycling street 18 Pedestrian zone 19 Speed bump 20 Toll road 21 Customs 22 One-way traffic 23 Quay 24 Slope 25 Bus lane 26 Bus stop 27 Dead end 28 Stop sign 29 Give way 30 Roundabout 31 Priority road 32 Road narrowing 33 Priority over oncoming traffic 34 Give way to oncoming traffic 35 Pedestrian crossing 36 Railway crossing 37 Mandatory direction 38 Turn prohibition 39 School area 40 Overtaking 41 Crossing animals 42 Slippery road 43 Rockfall 44 Aircraft 45 Curve 46 Chevron 47 Wrong-way driving 48 Roadworks 49 Crosswind 50 Height limit 51 Width limit 52 Length limit 53 Weight limit 54 Radar speed sign 55 Selective barriers 56 Low-emission zone 57 Intersection direction sign 58 Priority at the next junction 59 Traffic lights 60 Traffic lights warning 61 Pedestrian lights 62 Road markings 63 All-way stop 64 Junction layout 65 Climbing lane 66 Bike box 67 Left-hand traffic 68 Speed feedback 69 Driving licence 70 Location marker 71 Road number 72 Countdown markers 73 Public toilet 74 Rest area 75 Traffic mirror 76 Emergency telephone 77 International border 78 Pedestrian underpass 79 Cycling route 80 End of restriction 81 Parking 82 No parking 83 No stopping 84 Parallel parking 85 Park and ride 86 Kiss and ride 87 Alternate-side parking 88 Parking meter 89 Parking disc 90 Disabled parking 91 Traffic management 92 Merging 93 Reversing 94 U-turn 95 Carpool 96 Traffic jam 97 Detour 98 Uncontrolled crossroad 99 Road surface 100 Advisory cycle lane ...