Parisians on Sunday approved 54.55% “in favor” of Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s proposal to triple parking prices for SUVs, AFP reports.

In Paris, a referendum was held on the increase of parking fees for SUVsPhoto: Riccardo Milani / AFP / Profimedia Images

According to the municipality’s project, the user of a thermal or hybrid vehicle weighing more than 1.6 tons or two tons for an electric vehicle will soon have to pay 18 euros per hour of parking in the central areas of the capital, 12 euros for the suburbs.

Sunday’s referendum comes less than a year after city residents voted to ban electric scooters, and the new measure aims to discourage the “bulky, polluting” machines, according to city hall.

“Heavier, more dangerous, more polluting…SUVs are an environmental disaster,” said X Emmanuel Grégoire, deputy mayor of Paris.

Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo has made Paris’ streets environmentally friendly by creating 84km of bike lanes from 2020, with bike use up 71% after the end of the COVID-19 restrictions and 2023, according to city hall figures.

But the changes angered drivers.

40 million motorists have launched a petition in support of drivers’ freedom to use any car, as SUVs become increasingly popular in France, particularly favored by families.

“We must resolutely oppose these attacks on freedom under false environmental pretexts,” the group said. “If we don’t stop it now, this unjustified rebellion, led by an ultra-urban, anti-car minority, will spread like gangrene to other cities.”