The impact of parking on road congestion and the efficiency of public transportation

Numerous studies indicate a direct link between the availability and price of parking and the choice of transportation mode. As the number of parking spaces increases and the price of parking decreases, the likelihood of people choosing to travel by private car also increases, even when trips originate from and are headed to destinations that are easily accessible by public transportation. As more people use private cars, traffic congestion grows, and as a result, the efficiency of public transportation is impaired, both because it uses the same roads and faces the same traffic jams, and because it falls into a vicious cycle of fewer users and reduced service. In recent years, we have witnessed a shift in government plans aimed at encouraging the use of sustainable transportation modes, such as walking, cycling, or using public transportation. However, at the local government level (which regularly declares support for promoting these modes), we are seeing a policy of adding parking spaces, often for free, or even lowering parking prices in an attempt to solve the "parking shortage." In practice, this policy directly contradicts the government's plans. Currently, parking management in public spaces in Israel is lacking. Only a small portion of street parking spaces are managed by public bodies. For example, in Jerusalem, only about 10% of street parking is managed. In Tel Aviv, parking management mainly focuses on issuing fines, with the revenue from parking inspectors being double, or more, than the revenue from paid parking fees. Additionally, in the absence of proper management of street parking spaces and pricing, and without a systemic view of the total parking supply, there is no optimal utilization of the parking resource.

A data-driven parking policy and proper pricing will create optimal resource use, reduced urban traffic congestion, and a more efficient and high-quality urban environment. Common arguments heard in response to any attempt to manage parking and price it are often based on the presence, or absence, of public transportation and its efficiency. Critics often begin their arguments with phrases like, “Until there is efficient public transportation…” or “Until there is public transportation on the Sabbath…”. It should be noted that all the measures we propose here are suitable for any urban situation, even one without public transportation. While public transportation can impact parking supply, demand, and pricing, this does not negate the need to manage and price parking accordingly.