The European Federation for Transport and Environment revealed a research earlier this 12 months that confirmed SUVs are becoming too large for European roads and parking areas. With air pollution from SUVs additionally a priority, local weather activists insist there ought to be restrictions in opposition to house owners of cumbersome automobiles.
The outcomes of a referendum held over the weekend in France’s capital present that some individuals are okay with making the lives of SUV house owners a bit more durable. Parisians have voted in favor of successfully tripling parking charges to €18 (almost $20) per hour within the metropolis heart and €12 (nearly $13) in the remainder of Paris. These modifications will not apply to residential parking.
It ought to be talked about that the choice will not solely impression crossovers and SUVs. Owners of standard vehicles weighing 1,600 kilograms (3,527 kilos) or extra should pony up the additional money. Electric automobiles tipping the scales at over 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs) may even be affected. Those who stay or work in Paris will likely be exempt, as will these affected by disabilities. Additionally, taxi drivers, well being employees, and tradespeople will not be impacted by the result of the referendum.
Only round 5.7 % of voters, about 78,000 folks out of a complete of 1.3 million, went to one of many 39 voting cubicles. Parisians voted 54.55 % in favor of tripling parking charges for heavier vehicles. Despite the low turnout, the choice is anticipated to come back into impact as early as September 2024.
The referendum final 12 months in April to ban rental electrical scooters wasn’t in style both, with solely about 103,000 folks voting, accounting for simply seven % of registered voters. Despite the low turnout, rented electrical scooters had been subsequently banned within the City of Lights.
The new referendum held over the weekend is projected to impression about 10 % of automobiles in Paris, as said by the town’s deputy mayor answerable for transport, David Belliard. It’s protected to imagine that somebody who owns an enormous luxurious SUV reminiscent of a Mercedes GLE or a BMW X5 will not have a problem with paying an hourly fee of €18 as a substitute of €6.
That stated, the result of the voting may affect different capitals to take related motion. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo believes that some European cities will likely be inspired to take related measures, stating:
“Parisians have made a clear choice… other cities will follow. We’re proud of having posed an eminently environmental question at a time when the environment is presented as the source of all evil. It’s a form of resistance here in Paris to this very concerning movement.”