PARKING AND THE INTEGRATED TRANSPORT STRATEGY: THE ENFORCEMENT OF SPECIAL PARKING AREAS

Tighter control of parking, both on and off-street, is seen as one of the traffic restraint measures which could be used to counter the increasing trend towards more use of the car. With the possible introduction of workplace parking charges and a reduced supply of parking spaces both on and off-street there is likely to be increased demand on the remaining parking spaces. It is possible that most people who currently use a car will continue to do so. Inability to park as they currently do could result in motorists seeking alternative locations where they might park their vehicle. There could be increased use of Park & Ride (both formal and informal), parking on-street in residential areas or other locations, such as out of town shopping centres, as an interchange point between car and public transport. Whatever happens there is likely to be an increased need for the enforcement of existing parking regulations and/or the introduction and enforcement of new regulations designed to safeguard the ability, for instance, of residents to park near their properties. Financial constraints mean that the police traffic warden service will probably not be able to respond with the level of enforcement required. This will militate in favour of local authorities introducing decriminalised parking enforcement in Special Parking Areas (SPAs) so that they may more easily target enforcement resources to where they are required. This paper details some of the benefits achieved by introducing SPAs in London and elsewhere and argues that the establishment of a SPA should be part of any integrated transport strategy. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD E102135.