A simple guide on how to park in Finland.
- It is rude to take multiple spots when parking. If you don't want the locals to think of you as arrogant and selfish, don't do this. If you are afraid of people making dents to your car, there is always room on the far side of the parking lot where you don't have to worry about someone parking right next to you. Also, saying that you had to park like that because the car next to you did it before you, is a bad excuse. No one is forcing you to park next to him.
- You are not allowed to park closer than 5 meters before an intersection or a zebra crossing.
- The no parking sign means that you are only allowed to pick someone up or drop someone off. For example, you are not allowed to quickly visit a store, even if it takes you 5 minutes.
- You are only allowed to park in the direction of the traffic. This means that unless it's a one way street, you are only allowed to park to the right side of the road.
- This sign means that you have to pay to park here. There are parking meters in the area that show how much the parking costs per hour on this lot. You have to pay before you park and put the received ticket on the dashboard of your car so it is clearly visible. The time ranges on the sign show when it's mandatory to pay to park here. White text means mondays to fridays, white text with parentheses means saturdays and red text means sundays and national holidays. So the example sign below means that you have to pay if you park here from 8 to 17 on any day from monday to friday, or if you park here from 8 to 15 on saturdays. During other hours parking here is free.
- This sign means that you need to have a parking clock to park here. You can purchase one from almost any general store for a few euros. When parking, set the clock to the next half hour or full hour, which ever comes next, and put the clock on your dashboard so that it's clearly visible. The time on the sign indicates how long you are allowed to park here, so a maximum of 30 minutes with the example below.
- Parking on handicapped places is only allowed if you have a special sign on your car indicating that you are allowed to do so. Not exactly sure how Russians can acquire one in Finland, but in case you are actually handicapped and need to park on these places, at least make sure you only take one spot. These spots are typically closest to the shop doors and bigger than the normal spots to allow easier movement for those with wheelchairs etc.
Maybe a sign that tell's even a short stop isn't allowed (the circle shape sign with blue background and a red thin circle on rounds and X-shaped cross on top) is in order to put visible here, although it isn't so relevant in parking.
ReplyDeleteIt is relevant in the sense that it implicitly also forbids parking. Some people may find this difficult to understand.
ReplyDeleteA quick note about the No parking sign: As to the question of what is considered a "quick stop", the general rule of thumb is that the driver must be seated in his vehicle at all times when stopping under a No parking sign. Emergency side indicators should not be used to indicate a short stop. The vehicle's engine need not be running during the stop.
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteCould you clarify a little on this point: "You have to pay before you park and put the received ticket on the dashboard".
When I am in Finland I usually park my car, then go to the ticket machine, get back and put the ticket on a dashboard in an already parked car. Am I doind something wrong? How can I get a parking ticket without parking my car first?
Thanks,
Ivan
You're doing it right. What I meant is you pay when you park there, not when you're leaving.
Delete
ReplyDelete"It is rude to take multiple spots when parking."
I guess it is also against parking rules, or not? would the person receive a fine for such "parking"?
Actually it is not against any law. The lines are there just to help you park correctly but the only punishment is finding a picture of your from this site.
DeleteIf you park your car using multiple spots in parking-area where you need to pay for parking: if you use 4 spots, you need to pay fourfold. And if you get parking fine in there, it is also fourfold.
DeleteIf you park your car in other directions as the markings/sign guides you to, you will get parking fine.
The rules are pretty much the same in Russia. Russians are simply above the law. Or they like to think they are. Because they are the "Mafia". Also, everyone has tinted windows. That's the Russian style.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they at least let pedestrians cross the streets at zebra crossings. That's already considered extremely polite in Russia.