Making space for a real debate about parking

This article summarises a report from the UK's RAC Foundation on the future of parking policy in the UK. The report considers that, as car ownership is likely to increase, parking provision should be increased, including facilities for park and ride. Local authorities are seen as not investing enough in public car parks and these are not always viewed as safe by users. Parking enforcement should aim at reducing dangerous and obstructive parking rather than raising revenue. Almost one third of drivers interviewed in a survey reported returning home because they could not find a parking place: more on-street parking is recommended. Residential parking is sometimes restricted in planning: the report predicts that more people will park on the street if insufficient provision is made at their home. It is noted that less than half of the people surveyed used their garage for their car.