São Paulo ends Minhocão parking monopoly with paid zone

The city of São Paulo will implement a paid parking zone (Zona Azul) under the Minhocão elevated highway, starting next Monday, after a local auto repair shop monopolized the free parking for a month. The city government issued notices to remove vehicles parked in the area, giving owners five days to comply or face fines and vehicle impoundment. The parking area, intended as a pilot project, lacked regulations, allowing the repair shop to use it as a private lot. The new Zona Azul will operate weekdays and Saturdays with a two-hour parking limit, prohibiting motorcycles. City officials aim to increase parking availability, despite concerns about traffic congestion and the project's impact on bus routes.