Peripheral car parks, Corfu ParkApp and Traffic Police to tackle traffic congestion ahead of August

With the aim of easing congestion on the roads and reducing inconvenience for drivers and pedestrians during the first half of August, a broad meeting of all relevant stakeholders was held at the Regional Unit of Corfu. The plan focuses on the use of peripheral parking areas combined with public transport services, providing drivers with digital information through the Corfu ParkApp, as well as an increased presence of the Traffic Police at key locations.

A wide-ranging meeting on managing increased traffic during the peak of the tourist season, during the first 15 days of August, was held under the chairmanship of Mayor Stefanos Poulimenos at the conference room of the Regional Unit of Corfu (the former Prefecture building). Participants included Deputy Mayor for Technical Services Andreas Kardonas, Deputy Regional Governor for Technical Projects Giorgos Mamalos, representatives of the Police Directorate, Traffic Police, Port Authority, EKAB (Ambulance Service), Fire Service, the Urban and Intercity KTEL bus operators, as well as representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and tourism professionals.

Parking areas

A key pillar of the plan remains encouraging drivers to use parking facilities located around the perimeter of the town. In addition to the existing private car parks, the following municipal plots will also be available this year:

• “Lyriko”: 250 spaces
• Behind the Vocational High School (EPAL) in Mantouki: 60 spaces
• Prison Park: 60 spaces
• Part of the Inner Port (Sette Venti): for tourist coaches

Please note that, for public transport to and from the town centre, the Urban KTEL operates regular routes connecting these parking areas with the centre of town.

The Corfu ParkApp

A valuable tool in reducing inconvenience for drivers is the Corfu Parking app (park.gobeyond.gr), an initiative of the Corfu Chamber of Commerce which has now been operating for a year and has attracted a high level of usage.

The digital platform provides:

• A live view of availability in municipal, free and private car parks, helping prevent unnecessary driving around the town centre in search of a parking space.
• Directions, estimated arrival time and walking distance to the selected parking location.
• Real-time updates on traffic conditions on the town’s roads.

In addition, it provides statistical data that help draw useful conclusions. To assist both residents and visitors, and in cooperation with the Traffic Police, special signs featuring the relevant QR code have been placed at key points around the town and at tourist businesses, directing users directly to the application.

Increased policing and visitor information

At the same time, the Traffic Police will have an enhanced presence at key locations where congestion occurs, with the aim of facilitating the movement of both vehicles and pedestrians.

Representatives of the various bodies stressed their commitment to ongoing cooperation in addressing the traffic problem, not only during peak periods but also on a permanent basis. According to the Mayor, medium- and long-term measures will emerge through an implementation study as part of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), the commissioning of which is imminent.

In closing, the Mayor called on tourism professionals to place particular emphasis on informing their customers who travel by vehicle (private or rental), suggesting alternative routes for accessing the historic centre and highlighting peak hours that would be best avoided.

ELENI KORONAKI