The revolutionary new system was first tested in Braamfontein and will now be rolled out to the rest of the city. The city council and metro police will promptly reconvene in the board room to brainstorm places people can walk other than sidewalks. The side of the road will not be considered as this is already reserved for parking.

What an epiphany. The powers that be in Jozi looked at the city’s roads, noticed these roads have sides and decided 2011 is the year in which all motorists will have the right to park there. The future truly is here.

“There are wardens allowing motorists to park on the road side for a R7.50 fee per hour,” said Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar of the Johannesburg metro police.

He also noted that they didn’t just jump into this willy nilly but tested it in Braamfontein before rolling it out to the rest of the city. He explained that motorists will be issued with a parking slip.

1998 was the first time I sped away from a screaming parking warden in Long Street. I am not proud of this, nor do I condone it, but I think it does prove that when it comes to parking Cape Town has been ahead of the curve, so to speak, for years now. In Cape Town you can park on the side of the road, in the middle of the road or somewhere it looked like there might have been a road at some point. Improvisation is key. Sure, it’s maybe not the solution to the parking problem but goes a long way in alleviating it.

Welcome to the future, Johannesburg.