Rising Parking Prices in French Cities: Concerns for Traders and Customers Alike

In France, parking prices have increased by almost 5% in 2022, price increases that worry traders, but not only.

Parking costs have increased in several French cities last year (but also this year). StrasbourgLille, Saint EtienneLyon, Montpellier, here are some examples of cities that have boosted their prices, such as Saint-Étienne where 2 hours of parking go from 3.5 to 5 euros. For the association of merchants “Côté Saint-Etienne”, it is negative: “Cities that implemented increased parking lost a lot of customers in the months that followed. Exactly the same thing will happen to us.“, he explains on franceinfo.

Cities that implemented increased parking lost a lot of customers in the months after

To justify this increase, the town hall of Saint-Etienne speaks of an ‘increase in parking meter maintenance costs’… According to YesPark (private and covered car parks), this increase in parking prices in medium-sized French towns is linked to the move French people since health crisis and city policies.

Free up public space in favor of cycle paths and pedestrian areas

Charles Pfister (YesPark company), goes further in his analysis: “Many agglomerations choose to free up public space in favor of cycle paths and pedestrian areas, which leads to a reduction in parking spaces. Ultimately, the supply of places in town is decreasing, the prices of parking in car parks are increasing”, he specifies in the columns of the Figaro.

In the town center of Les Sables-d’Olonne parking is now paid

Since April 3, parking has become paid in the city center of Les Sables-d’Olonne during the day, everywhere and all year round. Again, those who make a living from frequenting shops, restaurateurs, etc. are worried because, inevitably, this scares away potential passengers. Recently in Tours, parking outside has been more expensive than underground. Objective: to encourage motorists to go to underground car parks, which are currently underused.