SUNDAY, the day of rest.

In Glasgow, the day of respite from parking charges - but now, no longer.

As a cycling, recycling, low carbon, environmentally aware do-gooder, I'm all for restrictions on drivers and vehicles.

I see what Glasgow City Council is trying to do by ending free parking in the city centre on a Sunday: there are low emissions targets to hit, environmental pledges to keep and, let's face it, we can't keep prioritising convenience over preserving the planet.

So why am I so fussed about the end to free Sunday parking?

It makes sense, doesn't it?

Read more: End to free parking could spell disaster for shopping centres 

Why just have this one day of the week where drivers can park for free when shops, cafes and restaurants long abandoned the Sabbath for Sunday opening?

Though ending free parking could have a knock-on impact on already struggling city centre shops.

I suppose two things: being able to drive into town and park for free when the rest of the week is spent on public transport or cycling feels like a nice treat; and then the worry that this will be a trial before it is rolled out across the city.

Glasgow City Council claims the new measures aim to tackle "parking bay blocking" in the city centre on a Sunday.

Is that a problem? Don't drivers know that if they're not in town early enough to snaffle a space then they might be out of luck and have to use a car park?

That seems like the creation of a made up problem to excuse a controversial decision.

The council also says drivers are parking on a Saturday night and leaving their cars until well into Sunday.

Read more: New parking zones could tackle congestion across city 

Isn't that the responsible thing to do? We should be encouraging people to leave the car if they've had a drink and then ensure all the alcohol has left their system before picking it up.

As part of the new measures, the council will also increase the number of or extend current taxi ranks to give people further choice in travelling to and from the city.

At the same time, the council is also increasing the fares, which councillors set, in black hacks.

No point in having plenty of taxis if no one can afford to use them.

We have to lure people out of their cars by making the alternatives tempting. Sadly, it's not the case in Glasgow.

Unless you live by the Subway and only want to travel to places on its tiny route, it is expensive and takes time to get about the city on public transport.

I'm happy to put a shift in for the majority of the week to try to make a difference but taking away the lazy Sunday option seems punitive.

And I fully realise that's hypocrisy.

It's a hypocrisy to be acknowledged and overcome though.

We're in a climate emergency and, sadly, creature comforts will have to become things of the past.