I recently met a couple of Rotterdam residents who don’t like offering paid parking in their area. It mainly concerns the costs of the parking permit for the residents of the neighborhood, although it must be said that they did not defend themselves. Noble, though it doesn’t change my view one iota.

Paid parking must be provided. never give up.

The debate over the introduction of paid parking often revolves around parking pressure, simply the ratio between the number of cars and the number of parking spaces. This is not crazy, of course. The municipality of Rotterdam maintains this same logic. Municipal parking regulations expressly state the amount of parking capacity that must be available in residential areas, which are divided between urban areas, city neighborhoods, and surrounding peripheries. But then it has not yet arrived. The parking pressure is then measured and only when it exceeds a certain limit is the City Hall parking fee paid as an option. In short, the municipality makes parking easier and paying for it is a big stick. A definitive treat, if you will.

This approach leads to heated debates, and this is very clear. There is an interest in not having to pay for parking. There is an interest in not having to be disturbed while parking. These conflicting discussions miss the point. It is based on the premise that the car belongs to an urban living environment. Old fashioned from the last century. The Bill Baby is our much-loved public space. The driver’s claim that space affects us all.

Therefore, paid parking is justified always and everywhere.

The parking fee is a public place tax and it is clear to everyone why parking costs money. You are burdening society. Since not everyone owns a car, it is unfair that some of us are allowed to use more space than others. Paying monthly to use the space as a contribution seems reasonable to me. It also prevents controversy over the carrying capacity that you cannot detect. Wallet thickness is everyone’s secret.

Now I understand that the world is primed with the idea that people own a car. That’s why we think we have the luxury of depriving some areas of good public transportation. But this does not apply to the city. Public transportation is well organized here. For us, for our visitors. With P&Rs on the edge of town, you’ll have the city at your feet by metro, tram and bus.

When deciding on zoning plans, parking pressure always comes as a concern for residents. They always find that the number of new registered parking spaces is very low. Never too high. I ask myself why. Each parking lot comprises about 12.5 square meters of public space and is thus lost within sight of the road. If my neighborhood were to be repaired, I would say: Stop it, and give me the space.

Because what you can do with that canned space now! greening. Play areas for our youth. Wider or separate bike paths. Plus bike pins. Widening the berth as it is now very narrow. Mobility scooter storage facilities. More old paper and glass collecting points. etc., etc. All things of general value.

The public parking tax helps other things too, if you’re still not convinced. It reduces vehicle usage and ownership, thus also reducing air pollution and making the streetscape more pleasant and lively. Less noise pollution, less stimuli. Really, with such a tax, you, as a car driver, are a fat buyer. It only stands up 95% of the time. And the whole time I was annoyed with parked cars.

Tax on public places. looks logical. Is it so?