Parisians have voted to triple parking prices for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) as the city aims to tackle air pollution and climate change through wealthy motorists driving heavy, large and polluting cars.
The referendum on Sunday was closely watched in other capital cities including London, with 54.6 per cent voting in favor of a special parking charge for SUVs, according to preliminary results. However, turnout – about 5.7% of registered voters in Paris – was lower than Green Party activists expected.
“Parisians have made a clear choice … and other cities will follow,” said Paris Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo, adding that road safety and air pollution were key reasons for voting.
Hidalgo has previously described efforts to curb the presence of SUVs through higher parking fees as “a form of social justice.” She said the move was intended to deliberately target the wealthiest drivers of expensive, heavy and polluting cars who have yet to change their behavior to combat the climate crisis.
The new parking fees may take effect in early September. The cost of on-street parking for an SUV or four-wheel drive will rise to €18 (£15) an hour in central Paris and €12 an hour in other parts of the city.
The price applies to cars with internal combustion engines or hybrids weighing more than 1.6 tonnes, and electric cars weighing more than 2 tonnes. This measure does not apply to parking lots for Paris residents.
Tony Renucci, director of air quality campaign group Respire, said: “The vote is a victory for the quality of life of Paris residents.” He added that Paris was sending a message that “no more pollution on our streets” Need these monsters on wheels”.
“Heavier, more dangerous, more polluting… SUVs are an environmental disaster,” Paris deputy mayor Emmanuel Grégoire posted on X as the vote began.
Last year, Paris held a similar vote on whether to ban e-scooter rentals, subsequently becoming the first European capital to do so. The turnout for this poll was 103,000, about 7% of registered voters, which was higher than the turnout for the SUV.
Under Hidalgo, Paris has put pressure on drivers for years by raising parking costs and phasing out a ban on diesel cars while expanding the congested capital’s network of bike lanes. The city has reduced the number of on-street parking spaces so motorists can use underground parking. The city said bicycle use increased by 71% between the end of the coronavirus lockdown and 2023.
David Belliard, Paris’ deputy mayor for transport and a member of the Green Party, said about 10% of vehicles in Paris would be affected by the increase in parking fees, which could bring the city up to 35 million euros in revenue per year.
Motorists’ lobby group 40 Millions d’Automobilistes believes drivers should be free to choose any vehicle they want, warning that the move to increase parking charges is unjustified and the work of a “ultra-urban and anti-car minority”.
French Environment Minister Christophe Béchu told broadcaster RTL that the SUV surcharge amounted to “a kind of punitive environmentalism” – even though drivers should “choose lighter vehicles”.
