New Parking Fee Structure to Address Vehicle Size and Weight
In a bid to curb pollution, Paris is set to increase parking fees for SUV owners starting January 1, 2024. Although specific fee details have yet to be disclosed, the charges will be based on vehicle size, weight, and engine type. This measure aims to address the rising number of SUVs, which have grown by 60% in the past four years and now represent 15% of all parked vehicles in the city.
Intent and Reactions to the Fee Increases
The Paris city council, having unanimously approved this initiative, seeks to address what is being termed “auto-besity” — the growing trend of larger, heavier vehicles dominating urban streets. Frédéric Badina-Serpette of the EELV ecology party emphasizes that this progressive pricing model will help reduce the prevalence of oversized vehicles. Electric cars and those used by large families are expected to be exempt from these increased fees.
David Belliard, a deputy mayor focused on public space and mobility, criticizes SUVs as ill-suited for city environments due to their size and resource consumption. Conversely, Pierre Chasseray from the driver defense group 40 millions d’Automobilistes argues that larger vehicles are often necessary for families and that this policy unfairly targets a small portion of the population. Similar initiatives are emerging in other French cities, such as Lyon and Grenoble, indicating a broader trend towards regulating vehicle sizes in urban areas.