Encouraging

Good Parking Policy

Possible wants people to look into local parking

The climate change charity Possible has been thinking about the fact that cars are parked for 95% of their lifespan, and how every car journey starts and ends with a car parking space. The campaign group says cars end up dominating public space, especially the kerbside, where cars seem to be prioritised over the needs of people. The charity observes: “Sometimes cars creep onto pavements and snatch away the already limited space for those who are walking and wheeling; this makes walking and wheeling really unappealing, prevents people with wheelchairs, buggies and guide dogs from getting around easily and safely – even forcing them into the dangerous roads and reinforces the desire to drive even short journeys.”

Possible says prioritising cars in public spaces leads to problems such as carbon emissions, air pollution, road danger, noise and reinforcing inactive lifestyles. The charity says: “We don’t think that’s fair. Research shows that the availability, accessibility and cost of parking has a more significant impact on car ownership rates than costs like insurance and fuel. Parking policy is therefore key to combating the climate crisis, improving air quality, promoting active, shared, and sustainable travel, making transport more accessible, and delivering safe and attractive streets.”

Because parking policy sits within the control of local authorities, Possible believes it can be used to enact significant changes at a local level. However, the charity is worried that not all local authorities are using parking policy to full effect. The charity says that council policies tend to deal primarily with permits and enforcement. However, local highway and traffic authorities can:

• control parking on residential streets, in town centres and other destinations, and are responsible for good management of streets and pavements

• manage housing estates, with the power to control parking

• operate public car parks

• set parking levels in new developments; and for front-garden parking

• hold the power to introduce local workplace parking levies on employers with workplace parking.

Possible states: “A good local authority parking policy should bring all of this together seamlessly with objectives on the environment, transport, the public realm and the economy. Good parking policy can benefit our health, the environment, as well as making it easier for those who own cars to park near their homes by getting rid of commuter and destination parking.”

Possible has created an online tool to help campaigners, residents, councillors and council officers to assess their local parking policies, and produce a Parking Action Plan which they can use to advocate for taking space away from cars and giving it back to people and nature. The charity says: “Depending on where you live, you may feel your local authority does not have a parking policy worth subjecting to detailed analysis or you may not have time to assess the parking policy in your area. If so, we’ve made it easy for you to send an local authority an e-mail to ask them to review their parking policies for the sake of people and the planet.” www.wearepossible.org