In an approach similar to that recently adopted in Paris, the city of Bordeaux is considering the application of higher pricing for SUV parking. This measure aims to encourage the use of more environmentally friendly means of transport and to reduce urban pollution.
Faced with the expansion of large vehiclesnotably SUV, and their growing environmental impact, Paris has recently taken measures by significantly increasing parking rates for these vehicles. This initiative, which emerged following a close vote, is part of a global approach aimed at reducing pollution and improving the quality of urban life. This policy of increased pricingtargeting in particular these vehicles for their imposing size and their contribution to urban congestion, reflects an awareness of the challenges posed by the increase in the size of vehicles on the parking infrastructure and public space.
This trend towards the widening of cars, which gain on average 1 cm in width every two years, raises significant problems of parking and safety in urban areas. With the growing popularity of SUVs, as the dominance of models such as the Tesla Model Y among the best-selling electric vehicles shows, cities are faced with the need to adapt their infrastructure. Paris’ decision to triple parking fees for these large vehicles aligns with a broader strategy to promote sustainable mobility, also encouraged by other European metropolises in the face of the adaptation and safety challenges posed by these increasingly large vehicles in the urban environment .
Bordeaux plans to increase the cost of parking for SUVs, following the example of Paris
The mayor of BordeauxPierre Hurmic, expressed, during his wishes to the press at the beginning of 2024, his interest in parking pricing that would take into account vehicle weight, in the spirit of what is already done in other metropolises. This reflection is part of a broader context of ecological transition within the city, which also provides for the introduction of a Low Emission Zone (ZFE) for the beginning of 2025. The year 2024 will therefore be a key period for informing citizens and defining the terms of these new measures.
These initiatives align with Pierre Hurmic’s objectives of promoting greener city, where gentle travel such as walking and cycling would be favored. The desire to reduce the place of SUVs, considered more polluting and cumbersome, is shared by other elected environmentalists across France. However, this approach raises questions about its impact on car manufacturers and on large families for whom this type of vehicle is sometimes the only viable option. Balancing ecological imperatives and the practical needs of city dwellers remains a major challenge of this urban policy.
Source: Automobile Propre