This event brought together WG members from various sectors to explore strategies for adjusting parking regulations, prompt European and national authorities to set new limits to the width of newly produced vehicles and improve the quality of public space amidst the continuous increase in the size of new vehicles, particularly SUVs.

Setting the stage

Parking Working Group Lead Daniel Herrera (POLIS) initiated the webinar, setting the stage for discussions on the pressing issue of vehicle size and its impact on urban environments.

Olivier Asselin (Lille Metropole – Chair of the WG) highlighted the importance of shifting focus from looking at parking spaces as meant only for cars, reminding us that ‘parking is not about cars but about space’, thus emphasising that parking is ultimately about space management. He briefly touched on the advancement in data-driven policies to preserve public space in many French cities – the question is, how does one city make sure that they are not adapting public space to vehicles but stopping vehicles from becoming too big?

Paris and the SUV referendum

Alice Nicollet, standing in for David Belliard (Deputy Mayor of the City of Paris), delivered insights from the Paris referendum on SUV parking, emphasising the city's initiatives to combat challenges posed by oversized vehicles through surtaxes and emissions-based regulations. Paris, characterised by its tiny and ultra-dense layout, sees only 13% of journeys made by car, yet cars occupy 50% of the space. With a significant portion of journeys (50%) made by walking and public transport, there's a push from the populace for more green spaces and sidewalks. Parisians' demand for parking fees for visitors and motorcycles underscores their commitment to reclaiming public space.

In response to the referendum, Paris plans to implement a joint communication for a surtax, effective from September, with exceptions for professionals, taxis, residents, and individuals with free parking options (e.g. disabled individuals). This move aligns with the city's broader policies, including the upcoming Low Emission Zone (LEZ) by 2025, and a ban on Crit’Air 3 and thermal cars by 2030. The decision underscores the correlation between vehicle weight and pollution, prompting the city to introduce measures aimed at reducing emissions.

The referendum outcome sends a strong political message, highlighting the public's willingness to address concerns about car obesity, pollution, and safety associated with large vehicles. Paris's actions are anticipated to set a precedent for other urban centres grappling with similar challenges, signalling a shift towards more sustainable and equitable transport policies across metropolitan areas.

An interesting and different take

Anders Kirkhus (SINTEF) presented SINTEF's study on parking place design, shedding light on Norway's legislative framework and proposals for effectively accommodating larger vehicles while maximising parking space. In Norway, two sets of legislation govern parking: transport laws encompassing roads, streets, and associated facilities, and building regulations covering parking within, on, and by buildings, with SINTEF primarily focusing on the latter.

Kirkhus detailed survey findings from car sales in Norway in 2020 and 2021, revealing key dimensions such as width without mirrors averaging 1.90 meters and a turning circle of 12 metres for the outer body, an increase of half a metre compared to a decade ago. Specific conditions outlined for parking include limitations on reverse movements, minimum clearances when driving, accessibility to all doors, and passageways between cars and obstacles. Recommendations proposed by SINTEF primarily revolve around optimising parking sizes, with a notable emphasis on factors such as construction cost rather than solely land use considerations. Notably, similar approaches have been observed in Germany, suggesting a broader applicability of these strategies beyond Norway's borders.

SINTEF's insights underscore the importance of balancing regulatory frameworks and practical design considerations to efficiently utilise parking space while accommodating evolving vehicle dimensions. The focus on parking size recommendations rather than strict quotas highlights a nuanced approach that accounts for varying needs and constraints across different contexts.

Fighting the SUVisation

James Nix (T&E) provided insights from T&E's report on the proliferation of large SUVs and their repercussions on road safety and environmental sustainability. Highlighting the findings from ‘Ever-wider: why large SUVs don't fit, and what to do about it,’ Nix addressed the concerning trend of SUVs' increasing width (a so-called SUVisation), leading to significant challenges for other road users. With SUVs growing by half a centimetre annually across various European countries (with Norway, UK, Croatia, and Italy leading the way), the comparison between their width, often exceeding 200 centimetres with mirrors, and the limited space available for road users raises critical safety concerns. Nix emphasised the consistent yet alarming changes in vehicle dimensions, prompting the need for proactive measures to address the issue effectively.

Central to T&E's recommendations is the implementation of weight-based parking charges to deter the ownership of oversized vehicles. Nix underscored the ineffectiveness of emission-based parking charges, advocating instead for a weight-centric approach that aligns with the vehicle's actual impact on road safety and infrastructure wear. Drawing insights from experiences in London and affluent areas where high annual charges failed to discourage SUV ownership, Nix proposed utilising metrics such as kerb weight or Mass in Running Order (MIRO) to determine parking fees. Moreover, recommendations included using the same weight metric as indicated on national vehicle registration cards, with special considerations for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) to reflect their weight disparities compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

Key discussion

The webinar featured a panel discussion where participants addressed questions and concerns raised in the chat log, including issues related to cross-border enforcement and retrofitting infrastructure to accommodate larger vehicles.

During the discussion, participants emphasised the importance of prioritising pedestrians, public transport, and bicycles in urban planning, acknowledging the challenges of accommodating vehicles within limited public space. Concerns were raised about the prevalence of SUVs in urban areas, with participants questioning the fairness of weight-based parking charges and suggesting alternatives such as size limitations for vehicles. Strategies such as weight-based parking charges and emissions regulations were discussed as potential measures to discourage the ownership of oversized vehicles and promote sustainable transport alternatives.

Anders Kirkhus once again shared insights from Norway's approach, recommending wider parking spaces to accommodate larger vehicles, while James Nix from T&E highlighted the need to consider weight versus width when determining parking space dimensions, particularly in accommodating electric vehicles. Alice Nicollet provided details on Paris's initiatives to address SUV usage and parking, including surtaxes for SUVs parked outside residential areas. Additionally, discussions covered legislative developments related to bicycle parking in buildings and EV charging infrastructure requirements.

The conversation also touched upon challenges such as enforcing surtaxes on non-French residents arriving in Paris and the lack of international agreements for handling circulating offences. Cities in France were noted to be lobbying for surtax implementation despite resistance from the government. Pedro Gomes highlighted the importance of policy consistency, noting that air pollution and vehicle size are not directly related, but rather connected to climate change concerns. Non-exhaust components, linked to vehicle weight, were also emphasised as factors to be included in policy considerations.

Conclusion

The webinar served as a platform for WG members to exchange insights and strategies for addressing the challenges posed by the increasing size of vehicles in urban environments.

The POLIS Parking Working Group remains committed to advancing discussions and initiatives aimed at improving road safety, curb space management, and the overall quality of public space in urban areas. To learn more about it, join the upcoming meeting In-person Parking Working Group at INTERTRAFFIC Amsterdam and Urban Air Mobility session at Amsterdam Drone Week.

View all presentations here.