Coming to Paris by SUV, 4×4 or sedan? We explain to you the voting points on the parking price increase

“More or fewer SUVs, and at what parking rate?” On Parisian billboards, Paris town hall calls its citizens to go to the polls on Sunday February 4. But the slogan chosen by the City is misleading. If “Sport Utility Vehicle” – These very fashionable all-terrain leisure vehicles – as they appear by name on campaign posters, the vote will actually concern the heaviest personal car, whether or not it’s attached with three annoying letters. We tell you all about this Paris election that divides even beyond the ring road.

On what subject will Parisians vote?

The question posed to the Parisians is as follows: “To create a specific rate for parking heavy, heavy, polluting private cars or against?” SUVs, these cars raised with the false air of adventurers, have won over motorists despite numerous criticisms of their pollution or their bulk. Concretely, the Paris Town Hall is proposing to make certain parking rates – by tripling their price – “Visitors with a thermal or plug-in hybrid vehicle of 1.6 tonnes or more” or an electric vehicle “2 tonnes or more”, The municipality specifies. From the 1st to the 11th arrondissement, parking time will cost 18 euros (compared to 6 euros for other vehicles). For districts going from 12th to 20th, it will increase to 12 euros (compared to 4 euros for others).

However, it would be unfair to present this vote as a “for or against SUVs” referendum. Because the proposed criteria, if adopted, would not actually concern the best-selling models in the market, such as the Peugeot 2008 and 3008, the Renault Captur or the Dacia Duster. for what Because most of these models weigh less than 1.6 tonnes depending on the version and are therefore not affected.

Finally, some districts will offer residents the opportunity to take a position on other local issues, listed here by the City of Paris.

How many people will be affected by this increase and who will be exempt?

According to David Belliard, Deputy Mayor in charge of Mobility, Thermal and hybrid cars weighing more than 1.6 tons represent “.About 10% of the park” A frequent automobile to the capital. On an ongoing basis, out of about 70,000 parking tickets generated daily, 7,000 vehicles will therefore be affected, he told AFP. According to Anne Hidalgo, this price increase could bring the city 35 million euros in additional revenue.

However, the Town Hall has provided a number of exemptions: “Residents of Paris and sedentary professionals parked in their official parking zones, taxi drivers in dedicated stations, artisans, health professionals and those qualified for the professional rate, as well as those with a mobility card included – parking” This will not be affected by the increase.

Finally, the price increase concerns surface parking and will not affect underground parking lots and garages. Similarly, like others, parking for large vehicles will be free after 8 pm, till 9 am the next day and also on Sundays.

How will voting be done?

To vote on Sunday, you must be registered on the electoral roll in Paris on January 8. Citizens of the community registered in the supplementary list for municipal elections will also be able to participate, the mayor clarified.

From 9 am to 7 pm, voting will take place at 38 locations, including a total of 222 polling stations in all districts of the capital, without proxy or electronic voting. The City of Paris has published on its website a list of these places as well as a list of documents that can serve as identification documents. (in PDF). “In districts where the question of local interest is in force, the voting process will be similar to the Parisian vote. The polling stations will then be equipped with two ballot boxes, one ballot box per vote (Parisian and District)”, Refers to the town hall.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the polls, a control commission was constituted by the municipality. This independent collegial body will be formed under the chairmanship of Yves Charpanel, the first Honorary Advocate General of the Court of Cassation. “A qualified personage, two representatives of the Assembly of Citizens drawn at random, and two representatives of the Ethics Commission of the City of Paris.”

Why does Paris town hall point the finger at heavy vehicles?

A town hall initiative “This is aimed at accelerating the ecological transition in which we deal with air pollution.” because “The bigger it is, the more it pollutes”, Anne Hidalgo explained on December 8. Apart from this health problem“Attendance Limit” SUVs aim to improve “Road safety, because the bigger it is, the greater the risk of an accident”, she justified. there “The Third Reason” There is progress “Share Public Space Better”,

The mayor of Paris added, making it clear The average size and weight of vehicles has continued to increase due to the exponential growth of SUVs, which represents the “.Now 40% of sales.

In Paris, the minimum pitch width including markings is 1.80 metres. However, the width of the 100 best-selling car models in Europe has increased by an average of 2.5 centimeters since 2018, from 177.8 to 180.3 cm, according to a report published on January 22 by NGO Transport & Environment (YOU). According to the study, some luxury SUVs are more than two meters with the mirrors folded. These vehicles “trespass on a footpath or road”, T&E France spokesman Nicolas Raffin explained as quoted by AFP. “They endanger cyclists, pedestrians, especially children and all other motorists.”

Finally, the NGO emphasizes, the heaviest cars are even when they are electric “Uses three times more copper and aluminum and five times more lithium, nickel and cobalt than a small electric city car.” David Belliard, for his part, highlights the “A social justice tool, because the most expensive, most luxurious vehicles are owned by the richest people.”

What do Parisians think?

According to a survey conducted in January by OpinionWay on the initiative of the NGO Breathe and Clean Cities, 61% Parisians support the implementation of parking pricing based on vehicle weight. More than half of Parisians surveyed said they had a bad opinion of these big cars (56%), mainly condemning their bulky appearance (cited by 75%), their responsibility in deteriorating air quality (61%) and their Negative impact on climate (58%).

Regarding the object of measurement, thisRead from the 13th arrondissement Habib Shoukri (UDC group) condemned the move “seizure”, Even if the project “A good feeling begins.” “What efforts has the City made to facilitate the switch to electric power for individuals and businesses? This evaluation is zero. Let the city show the way before taxing at any cost”, Did he react?.

Clarifying to be “Better sharing of public space, favoring less car space”, Modem Democrats and ecologists groups, for their part, allege In a press release Mayor of Paris“Build a tool for democracy.” This vote “Their intention is not to solicit opinion, but to reinforce policy”, Accuses the group. “If it really was a question of more or less SUVs, all SUVs would be affected, and not just the vehicles of non-Parisians,” Press release continues.

for, “There are other more debatable topics that deserve consultation with Parisians”, As Frank Boisselet estimates of the Renaissance in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, on. And to surprise: “What’s the point of organizing an expensive vote on an SUV where everyone agrees?”

Is Paris the only city to take such measures?

The capital is not alone in wanting to encourage motorists to favor smaller vehicles. In Lyon, a new progressive price for parking will be introduced during the municipal council on March 21, France 3 Rhône-Alpes explains.

In Grenoble, subscriptions to the metropolis’s 21 car parks will also cost more, especially for heavy cars, from March 1. Metropolis justified this choice by the additional maintenance costs associated with these vehicles, says a report from France 3 Rhône-Alpes, which cites the cost of replacing coverings, with spaces sometimes becoming too narrow.

What will happen after the election?

This will be the second vote organized by Paris town halls on self-service electric scooters in April. This first gathered a little more than 100,000 voters, or 7.46% of registered voters, who overwhelmingly (89.03%) rejected the renewal of the contracts of companies offering access to this mode of transport. “Free Floating” (Self Service).

Despite a strong reluctance, Anne Hidalgo was committed “Respecting results pure and simple”. These self-service scooters have since disappeared from the streets of Paris.