A few weeks ago, the ecological municipality of Lyon announced the introduction of a new pricing system for paid parking in order to guarantee a fairer distribution of public space, i.e. parking spaces, in the city.

The principle is relatively simple: this new pricing system, which will come into force from 2024, assumes that some motorists will pay less for parking, while others will pay more. Such a decision is motivated “Public Health, Social Justice and Environmental Transition Considerations”according to the Executive Director of Environmental Protection in charge of Lyon City Hall.

How will it be characterized in practice? The heaviest and most polluting vehicles will have to pay an increased rate of €45 per month. This applies to diesel vehicles weighing more than 1,725 ​​kg, plug-in hybrids weighing more than 1,900 kg and electric vehicles weighing more than 2,200 kg. The aim is to encourage the use of smaller or low-emission vehicles.

Fighting “self-obesity”

And obviously, and without much surprise, this new idea inspired other municipalities, starting with Paris. Paris electors, in turn, voted for this desire at the Paris Council.

“We would like the city of Paris to change the rates for paid parking to make them progressive according to the weight and size of the vehicles”said Frédéric Badina-Serpett, elected environmentalist at 18^thousand district

It’s also a way to focus on a new trend: “self-obesity”by which the elected official is qualified “the inexorable increase in the weight and size of vehicles circulating in our cities, and especially in Paris”.

“Between 1960 and 2017, the weight of vehicles increased by an average of 62%, their width by 14% and their height by 21% (…) except that our public space cannot be expanded”launches Frédéric Badina-Serpette before continuing: “So what can we do? Apply the polluter pays principle.

➕vehicles get bigger➕they pollute.
Public space does not expand, and the climate does not wait.

Paris says to stop the development of SUVs and in this sense sends an important message to car manufacturers.

THANK YOU @vlungenstrass for leadership in Lyon https://t.co/cNMlM9oGAe

— Fred Badina Serpett🌻♻️ (@fredbadina) June 8, 2023

Implementation from 2024

As in Lyon, Paris plans not to fine Parisians who have no choice but to travel in SUVsincluding a “adapted solidarity tariff” which may apply to families with the lowest incomes as well as large families who sometimes need a larger vehicle to get around.

The contours of this new regulation should take shape in the coming months next year’s application. Surprise aside, Paris has to rely on the weight thresholds set by the city of Lyon to create its own grid… with obviously higher parking prices.