10.4 - Equity impacts

Parking

The equity impacts of parking management depend on the type of measures used, where and how they are applied, and the quality of transport alternatives. Measures that reduce subsidies and charge motorists directly for the parking costs they impose tend to increase fairness (horizontal equity).

Some parking management measures, such as parking cash out and location efficient development can provide significant benefits to lower income and transport-disadvantaged people. Some parking management measures benefit people who are transport disadvantaged by helping to create less private vehicle-dependent land use patterns, and reducing the parking costs they bear through taxes, rents and employment benefits.

Parking pricing can be regressive, but overall equity impacts depend on how revenues are used and the quality of travel choices. If revenues are used to benefit lower-income households and there are good travel alternatives to driving, pricing and taxes can be progressive overall.