After last April’s vote ended the self-service scooter fleet on the capital’s streets, Parisians voted on Sunday to create a specific rate for parking SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and other large personal vehicles.
According to official results published in the evening, the municipality’s proposal received 54.55% positive votes. This is a much lower score than the electric scooter, which was rejected by 89% of voters.
Up to 225 euros for 6 hours
Only 5.68% or 78,000 of those registered in the electoral roll took part in Sunday’s voting. Paris Mayor Ann Hidalgo said it was a “little less” participation than “scooters”, but a “very good result”. The elected PSA hailed the “clear choice of Parisians” in favor of “good for our health and good for the planet”.
In order to apply on September 1st, the measure regarding urban 4x4s must be discussed in the Paris Council in May. It theoretically triples visitor parking rates for all “heavy, bulky, polluting” cars, to use the ballot paper’s wording.
The first hour of parking will thus rise to 18 euros in zone 1 (central districts) and 12 euros in zone 2 (districts 12 to 20), the municipality predicts. For six hours, the maximum duration of visitor parking, the bill will reach 225 euros in zone 1 and 150 euros in zone 2.
Drivers of large cars are likely to be prevented from coming to or driving to Paris, unless they choose a space in a private, underground or open-air car park. The measure echoes the end of free parking for thermal motorcycles and scooters in Paris from September 2022.
There are no exceptions for hybrids and electrics
This time, Paris City Hall is targeting four-wheeled thermal or rechargeable hybrid vehicles weighing more than 1.6 tons and electric vehicles weighing more than 2 tons. The weight measure was unique by the city, noting that there is no regulatory definition of an SUV.
This method does not exempt hybrid and electric vehicles, which are heavier than their thermal counterparts due to the weight of the batteries, although they emit less particulate matter.
The increase in parking rates could affect around 900,000 vehicles registered in Île-de-France (including 129,000 in Paris), according to company AAA data. or 16% of the Île-de-France fleet, including family sedans and vans.
Sharing public space
Paris City Hall wants to see fewer large cars on the capital’s streets to “better share public space, reduce pollution and reduce accidents”. The project was criticized by the Paris council’s right-wing group Changer Paris, as it would affect “some recent hybrid or thermal vehicles classified as Crit’Air 1, without discrimination”.
Residential parking on capital streets is not affected by the measure. Exceptions are also planned for artisans, taxis, health professionals and people with reduced mobility, the town hall assures.
In Lyon, new parking lots should come into effect every June. The heaviest vehicles will be fined, as in Paris, but reductions are planned for low-income families and families with three or more children.
