The municipality of Tržič has developed a new parking policy with the help of IPoP – Institute for Spatial Policies, as part of the SaMBA project, which main objective was promoting low-carbon mobility in the Alpine region. In summer 2021, new parking regimes were enforced in city centre parking areas. Free short-term parking, paid parking, parking permits are just some of the measures in the municipality’s parking policy action plan. Its key objectives are to contribute to better accessibility of city centres, balanced transport systems and a higher quality of life as well as support the local economy.
The process of developing the parking policy
Parking policies are developed based on both factual data and the views and experiences of users. Reliable data on parking occupancy and where people park for how long was obtained through a parking pulse analysis, where we took a field inventory of all parked vehicles on a selected 1,900 parking spaces in Tržič several times a day. This and other quantitative analyses gave us insights into what is happening. However, the situation is still best known to the town’s inhabitants, so we have repeatedly invited the public to participate in the process of developing the parking policy through public debates, interviews and surveys. It is important that people understand the basis for the proposed measures and that they can help shape them. We held two public debates, four interviews with local stakeholders, one focus group meeting and two surveys with a sum of 530 anwsers.
In public discussions with local residents, we have verified the data we collected through the parking pulse analysis in May and June 2020. The parking occupancy rate showed high to very high parking occupancy in Tržič. The average occupancy rate of the inventoried parking areas in Bistrica, Ravne and Tržič throughout the day is 71%, with the highest occupancy rate in the evening at 77%. We assume that the high demand for parking is due to the good motorway connectivity, the poor public transport offer, the limited opportunities for daily cycling and the relocation of jobs outside Tržič. Parking supply is limited due to limited space in narrow valleys and expensive parking garage solutions.
The participants in the public debate agreed with the information presented. The basic problems, from which all the others stem, were the scarcity of space in the old town, the poor parking culture of drivers and, on the other hand, the lack of surveillance. Trucks are often parked in the Old Town at night, but during the day they are replaced by the cars of the drivers of these trucks. So some parking spaces are always occupied by vehicles of drivers who do not even enter the city. A suggestion has been made to remove trucks from the city centre. Parking spaces at apartment buildings outside the city centre, in Bistrica and Ravne, are also (over)occupied. Drivers often park on roads, pavements and greens, obstructing important access points.
Residents see solutions to the problems in regimes that would increase turnover in parking areas. If parking spaces are not occupied by vehicles parked for the whole day, that frees up some parking spaces available for shorter-term use. Walking should also be promoted. In Tržič, distances are short, so remote parking is suggested and infrastructure for walking to the destination.
Five strategic parking policy objectives have been set in cooperation with the municipal administration and the residents.
- To reduce parking occupancy in Tržič, making it easier to find a parking space in the town centre. Vehicles that do not belong there (vehicles that are rarely used, commercial vehicles, abandoned vehicles, etc.) should be removed from parking lots in the centre.
- Existing parking areas should be properly landscaped (paving, drawing lines, signage). This will make parking easier, less illegal parking and easier to control.
- Contribute to a higher level of walking, cycling and use of public transport through a restrictive parking policy.
- Slow down the increase in parking capacity and
- Reduce the importance of car-oriented spatial planning.
Four operational objectives were also set:
- Introduce paid parking in the busiest parking areas,
- to target 85% occupancy at peak times through parking regimes,
- to reduce occupancy by residents by 10%, by employees by 15% and by visitors by 5%; and
- adjust the parking standards in the municipal spatial plan.
Implementation of the first actions
In the summer of 2021, the Municipality of Tržič started implementing the first parking measures in the old city centre. At the entrance to the city, parking occupancy signs appeared. The busiest parking spaces are located in the narrowest part of the town and occupancy signs can help drivers avoid getting tangled between parked vehicles and direct them to accessible and free parking spaces. To reduce congestion, parking at the health centre, behind the Mošenik and at the market has been made payable. The first hour of parking is free, so short-term visitors or shop customers can still park without any problems. Each additional hour of parking costs € 0.40. Residents can buy parking permit (€75) for one vehicle per flat, while everyone else can buy a monthly (€20) or annual (€200) parking permit. The parking prices were coordinated with residents through a survey – we asked them what they thought was a good price for parking and how much they were willing to pay for a parking permit. This way, parking is truly tailored to the needs of Tržič residents.
First results
The first monitoring of the parking situation in Tržič’s old city centre shows that parking is now a lot easier. The first field monitoring was carried out in February 2022, and later with the help of parking cameras that record every parking from a bird’s eye view.
The analysis showed that the parking area at the health centre is significantly less occupied (38% lower occupancy). At the market, where many employees park, there is always a free parking space in the morning (approx. 20% lower occupancy). The parking area behind Mošenik is still the busiest, with occupancy rates of more than 100% before the measures were introduced. Now, thanks to occupancy signs that inform drivers where they can park already before entering thecity centre, and of course to the parking charge, parking behind Mošenik is easier – the occupancy rate is close to optimal, at 82%. It would be advisable to extend the operating hours of the parking regime in this parking area, as residents with annual permits who come home from work in the afternoon can no longer find a free space in this parking area.
The municipality was prepared for dissatisfaction when the measures were put in place, but in three months there have been no major problems. The Director of the Municipal Administration is also the owner of the monthly pass. He is impressed by the ease of buying a pass via the Easypark app and has experienced first-hand the fine, which he has received positively: “So the system works!”.
What do Tržič residents think of the new parking regimes?
In addition to monitoring the parking situation, we also repeated an opinion survey among Tržič residents after the introduction of the new parking regimes. They answered the same questions as the first time. After half a year of the measures being in place, 20% more respondents agreed with the statement “Paid parking is normal for city centres”. The statement “All parking should be free for all. Let everyone park where they want, for as long as they want, even if it makes it difficult to find a parking space” received 16% less support than before, and similarly, 14% less support for the statement that free parking is an essential asset of Tržič. We were surprised to find that 42% of respondents supported paid parking before the introduction of the parking charge and 59% after the introduction. A higher proportion of residents also do not want to see parking free again. It can be concluded that residents have embraced parking measures in a very short period of time and have seen the benefits they bring.
Where did all the cars go?
With the reduction in parking area occupancy, the question arises, where are all the cars that were previously parked here? Although there has not been a drastic increase in the number of pedestrians and cyclists, according to the survey 18% of respondents have changed their mobility habits. In addition to sustainable mobility, they have probably taken up carpooling or decided to park in other parking areas. It is noticeable that the surrounding car parks are now busier. In some cases this is not a problem, for example where residents and employees are just exchanging places during the day. The remote parking area at BPT is underused and even congested during weekdays. Illegal parking is a bigger problem. The police will have to be more vigilant on such points.
Continuation of the Action Plan already in 2022
Less than one year after the new parking regimes were implemented, the Municipality of Tržič has already extended the area of paid parking and at the same time the area of exclusive short-term parking. Since May, such parking regimes have been in place on the main street along the old town centre, Cankarjeva Street, which is home to a shop, a post office, a bus station, a restaurant and other important services. In addition to this important extension of the parking regimes, parking has been upgraded with the introduction of digital parking permits. These can now no longer be purchased in physical form, but only via the EasyPark app. This makes the service simpler and cheaper for most, and the municipality helps those who find it difficult to purchase a permit through EasyPark.
What are the plans for the future?
The plan is to further extend the area of paid parking in Tržič, and in the future to include the residential neighbourhood of Bistrica. In time, when the revenues exceed the costs of parking management, there will be an opportunity for the municipality to allocate resources to local development, especially towards sustainable mobility.
—
Authors: Anja Slapničar, Urban Jeriha
