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Paris Implements Tripled Parking Fees for SUVs to Combat Congestion and Pollution

The City of Paris has voted to significantly increase parking charges for SUVs, aiming to reduce traffic and improve air quality.

SUV car drives on the Champs Elysees avenue, near to the Arc de Triomphe Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 in Paris. Paris residents voted on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, on whether to muscle SUVs off the French capital’s streets by making them much more expensive to park.
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An SUV car on a street in Paris, France on February 2, 2024. The city voted Sunday to triple parking charges for the biggest, most polluting cars.

Overview

  • Parisians voted in favor of tripling the cost of parking an SUV in the city, with fees rising to approximately $20 per hour.
  • The decision exempts Paris residents and work vehicles, targeting SUVs from the suburbs and beyond.
  • SUVs now account for 40% of vehicle sales in Paris, despite the city's narrow roads and small parking spaces.
  • Critics argue the measure could be seen as punitive environmentalism, while supporters believe it will make Paris more bike- and pedestrian-friendly.
  • The move is part of Mayor Anne Hidalgo's broader efforts to reduce car presence in Paris, especially ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games.