Transforming on-street parking in the city center: Evidence on public acceptability before and after implementation

Source abstract

Despite the key role of parking policy in sustainable transport, there is surprisingly limited research on how people view and experience parking policies. This study investigates changes in public acceptability of a real-world parking transformation. Approximately 50% of existing parking spaces were removed from the streets of the city center of Copenhagen with the purpose of being reused as space for street life, bicycle infrastructure, and greenery. Longitudinal survey data (N = 1378) were collected immediately before and one year after policy implementation, as part of a before-after panel study. Results show that acceptability of on-street parking transformation was generally high, with the majority of respondents supporting the policy both before and after implementation. However, acceptability declined after implementation, indicating a possible gap between expected and experienced outcomes. Furthermore, panel data analysis shows that travel satisfaction, intentions to reduce car use, younger age, higher education, and cohabitation status are linked to higher acceptability across the study period. Conversely, residence in the intervention area, preference for car-based mobility, car dependence, and car availability are associated with lower acceptability. Analysis of residents’ evaluations reveals differing attitudes towards the policy. Positive attitudes include support for car-free zones and for expected improvements in walkability, bikeability, livability, and sustainability, while negative attitudes revolve around perceived inconvenience for residents of the city center, anticipated negative impacts to local businesses, and exclusion of car drivers from the city center.