Beijing authorities are considering increasing parking fees in
busy areas to discourage people from driving and to clear up key
arterial roads.
Among those areas likely to be targeted are busy commercial
districts like the CBD and Zhongguancun, and congested areas like
Yansha and Beijing Western Station, according to the Beijing
municipal development and reform commission.
An official surnamed Wang with the Beijing municipal bureau of
transportation's parking administration said the price increases
could push people towards using public transportation.?
"If we build more roads and more parking places, it just
stimulates people to buy more cars," Wang said.
"Increasing parking fees should encourage more people go out by
public means of transport instead of using private cars."
Parking fees in the busiest areas are 2.5 yuan per half hour for
small cars and 5 yuan per half hour for large vehicles, about 3
yuan more than other areas.
Yue Zhongqiang, a CPPCC National Committee member, said
increasing the fee would improve traffic flows and save motorists
time finding a parking spot.
"But around major public places, like stations, we have to
consider affordability for citizens."
In addition, the higher roadside parking fees could encourage
the use of underground parking lots, according to the
commission.
Beijing announced last year that 26 free or low-cost large-scale
parking lots would be built near subway and bus stops to encourage
drivers to use public transport in downtown Beijing.
Parking fees near major subway stations and bus terminals on the
city's outskirts are to be lowered to encourage people to park
their cars there and then travel to urban areas by public
transportation, according to the commission.
The new fee rates will be released after further
consultation.
Zhao Fengtong, vice-mayor of the Beijing municipal government,
said early this year that Beijing had 940,000 parking spaces but
still needed another 400,000.
(China Daily July 10, 2007)