New tariffs in Riga's Old Town

  • 2001-01-11
  • Jorgen Johansson
RIGA - Following a huge investment to upgrade the vehicle entrances to Old
Town, the Riga City Council decided that from Jan. 1 this year,
prices for cars to enter will increase.

A person residing in Old Town will be slapped with a fee of five lats
($8.2) per hour after the first 30 minutes between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.,
but there will be no charge for keeping a car in Old Town between 6
p.m. and 8 a.m., as long as one can prove that it is parked in a
certified parking place, like a garage.

Olita Sproge, deputy director for Riga City Council's traffic
department, said the decision should cut down on traffic in Old Town.

"Persons who live in Old Town can still come to the City Council and
apply for permission to drive in Old Town without paying," Sproge
said. "Still, in a few years' time it will probably not be allowed to
drive in Old Town at all."

If permission is denied, an Old Town resident can buy a six-month
permit for 300 lats.

New tariffs for companies who conduct business in Old Town will
require payment of as much as 1,000 lats for a six-month permit.

Disabled people will still be permitted to enter Old Town free of
charge, as will scooters and motorcycles.

Inara Baranova, head of the Diplomatic Corps Division in the Foreign
Ministry, said they have an agreement with the City Council
commission that issues permissions to enter Old Town.

"So far we have never had any problems with getting these permits,"
Baranova said.

Diplomatic staff, however, are not excluded by the new rules. An
ambassador is allowed to enter free of charge, but other diplomatic
vehicles will have to pay five lats per hour after the first 30
minutes.