{"id":2884,"date":"2024-10-18T14:07:42","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T14:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/horizon.peachpuff-wolverine-566518.hostingersite.com\/?p=2884"},"modified":"2024-10-20T14:44:15","modified_gmt":"2024-10-20T14:44:15","slug":"breathing-space-smart-parking-policies-improve-city-dwellers-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2884\/breathing-space-smart-parking-policies-improve-city-dwellers-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"Breathing space \u2013 smart parking policies improve city dwellers\u2019 lives"},"content":{"rendered":"

EU-funded researchers have put in place smart parking set-ups that offer residents across Europe cleaner air, more greenery and space to play.<\/p>\n

By Helen Massy-Beresford<\/p>\n

When the makeover of Piazza del Popol Giost is completed this December, residents of Reggio Emilia will find themselves strolling through a tree-lined, pedestrianised square that until recently was just a car park.<\/p>\n

The overhaul of the 1\u00a0300m2 piazza is part of the northern Italian city\u2019s broader sustainable urban mobility planning and was supported by an EU-funded team of researchers from 18 countries across Europe.<\/p>\n

As part of a four-year research collaboration called Park4SUMP, the researchers worked together to bring similar benefits to cities across the continent. They were motivated by a shared belief that intelligent parking management is critical to making cities both more attractive and safer for citizens.<\/p>\n

Sustainable mobility<\/strong><\/p>\n

Resolving urban parking issues \u2013 a sore point in most cities today \u2013 is a key part of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), an EU-wide initiative that aims to benefit the environment and residents.<\/p>\n

In Reggio Emilia, work is underway to make permanent changes to the square\u2019s layout. Drawing on the know-how of the EU-funded research team, it has proceeded gradually, starting with part-pedestrianisation and then a complete ban on cars.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an important part of our general strategy for improving the quality of life in Reggio Emilia,\u201d said Alberto Merigo, an engineer and mobility planner for the city of around 170 000 people.<\/p>\n

The European Commission is encouraging municipal authorities to put SUMPs in place across Europe to help tackle challenges such as traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, and road safety.<\/p>\n

The intention is to instigate new trends in mobility that help reduce the number of cars on the streets, such as car-sharing schemes and a shift away from individual car ownership.<\/p>\n

Smart methods for smarter parking<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the initiative\u2019s key contributions was the development of a specific method for auditing municipal parking strategies called ParkPAD.<\/p>\n

ParkPAD helps local authorities better understand the situation and identify what can be improved by using online questionnaires, data analysis and workshops, led by a local auditor in the local language. It also provides concrete proposals through an action plan tailor-made to local needs.<\/p>\n

With more than 20 years of experience working on sustainable transport projects, Patrick Auwerx, coordinator of Park4SUMP and project leader at Belgian sustainable mobility NGO Mobiel 21, has supervised a dozen parking audits in towns and cities in Belgium, the Netherlands and Albania.<\/p>\n

According to Auwerx, despite many longer-term benefits, changing a city\u2019s parking set-up is not always easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn people\u2019s minds, parking is a very emotional subject. They often seem to think that when they buy a car, they get a free parking space,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Politicians don\u2019t like to change parking regulations in favour of sustainable mobility because they fear voters\u2019 reactions, acknowledged Auwerx.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be very difficult to discuss parking with stakeholders and citizens. We provided data to rationalise these discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ParkPAD method played a vital role, helping participant cities to find a way forward and ensure that everyone agrees to implement changes through consultation and citizen involvement.<\/p>\n

Changing parking habits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Instead of focusing on infrastructure, the researchers concentrated on parking behaviour.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking on parking infrastructure is the old way of looking at parking policy,\u201d said Auwerx. One of the researchers\u2019 aims is to showcase how great streets are when there is more room for people instead of cars.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuilding new car parks often means parking oversupply, which of course attracts more cars,\u201d said Auwerx. \u201cWe wanted to break this vicious circle, with push-and-pull measures that make people think about whether they still need to use their own car or can instead take public transport, or cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

The positive knock-on effects of well-thought-out parking policies are significant and support the EU\u2019s long-term climate goals, including the\u00a0Cities Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030, and the broader European Green Deal.<\/p>\n

Not only will cities be cleaner and safer, but researchers predict that housing prices will go down because developers no longer need to factor in so many parking spaces.<\/p>\n

Replacing heat-retaining concrete or asphalt parking spaces with greenery is also one of the best ways to fight high temperatures in cities, which has become a more pressing issue in recent years due to climate change.<\/p>\n

Spreading smart parking across Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n

The research team led by Auwerx worked with a group of 16 cities of varying sizes across Europe, including Freiburg in Germany, Lisbon, Sofia, Trondheim in Norway and Spain\u2019s Vitoria-Gasteiz. Since the project ended in August 2022, the concept is being rolled out in more European cities.<\/p>\n

Participants were divided into \u2018leading cities\u2019, those with sophisticated parking strategies already in place, and \u2018learning cities\u2019 that do not yet have a formalised parking plan. The sharing of information and best practices helped participants to build on positive experiences.<\/p>\n

Back in Reggio Emilia, the step-by-step transformation of its Piazza del Popol Giost is continuing, but has already improved the quality of life in the neighbourhood, Merigo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the site is finished, it will be a really beautiful place, with space to rest, trees and fountains. And the restaurants will have some permanent space for their customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPark4SUMP played an important role in the transformation of the square and we hope it will inspire similar improvements in other neighbourhoods,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Research in this article was funded by the EU\u2019s Horizon Programme. The views of the interviewees don\u2019t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. <\/em><\/p>\n

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