Grenoble has become the second city where street parking is the most expensive, according to a ranking compiled by Zenpark. In addition to price increases, there is a reduction in the number of spaces on the road, making parking an obstacle course.
Parking in the city center of Grenoble without breaking the bank is becoming more and more complicated. The capital of the Alps ranks second among the most expensive French cities when it comes to on-street parking, just behind Paris where it takes pay an average of 5 euros for parking for an hour.
With an average rate of 2.50 euros per hour, prices have increased by 25% in one year in Grenoble. An increase that earns him a place in this ranking established by the parking space manager Zenpark, the capital of the Alps now ranking ahead of Bordeaux – 2.15 euros per hour. This average price is established by Zenpark from the parking rates applied in the different areas of more than 200 French cities.
In Grenoble, new fee schedules were put in place at the beginning of the year for the orange and purple zones, in the city center, as well as in the green zones, on the outskirts. The rates for each level have been revised upwards to “to encourage the population to use public transport or the bicycle to make it possible to regain space in the city”, argued the municipality. Note that this increase does not apply residents and professional beneficiaries benefiting from preferential rates.
“3 euros per hour… It’s always too much, especially when you know that it was free in the past in August”regrets a motorist who has just parked in the city center. “Coming to Grenoble by car is not even worth it”slices another conductor.
Beyond 3 hours of parking, the minute costs 1 euro in the orange and purple zone. Contacted by France 3 Alpes, the municipality could not be reached to answer our questions. Because in addition to parking prices which are increasing, in 8 years, Grenoble has lost more than 1,000 parking spaces on the road.
A policy assumed by the municipality which wishes “allow a better rotation of parking in the city center”explained to us Gilles Namur, deputy mayor in charge of public spaces and mobility. “Certain time slots are free and the resident rate remains one of the cheapest in France”he also assured at the end of 2021. Another option for parking in the city centre, underground car parks which sometimes become a less expensive alternative.
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