PARK NOW, PAY LATER? A STUDY OF OFFENSIVE PARKING IN THE HEART OF LONDON

Because of the lack of evidence regarding the quantity of illegal parking in central London streets and the number of cars parked wholly or partly on the footways, a three-part study was undertaken: a random 10% sample survey of the streets of W1, WC1 and WC2, discussions with experts, and a review of the sparse literature. It was found that within central London over 50% of parking is illegal. It appears that over 94% of those who park illegally will never pay any kind of penalty. The reasons for this include a 50% shortage of traffic wardens, antiquated and often damaged parking meters, and a great shortage of court space in the few courts that handle parking offences. Another very important reason is the dexterity with which some motorists find loopholes in the system. Legal on-street parking is only 25% of the total on-and off-street parking stock in central London, but the proportion changes drastically when illegal on-street parking is included. If perfect enforcement of the present system could be achieved, between 30% and 50% of traffic entering central London in the morning peak and intending to park there, could be excluded. The report sees "perfect enforcement" as being very difficult to achieve and instead favours cordoning central London during weekday mornings, only allowing essential traffic to enter: this would also achieve a reduction of one-third to one-half of entering traffic. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0905545044
• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Environment Studies

  103-107 Waterloo Road
  London,   England 
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 81 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Central business districts; Crimes; Highways; Law enforcement; Legislation; On street parking; Parking; Parking meters; Parking regulations; Parking violations; Peak periods; Penalties; Police; Traffic restraint; Walkways
• Uncontrolled Terms: Enforcement; Illegal parking
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 1534: Enforcement (law); 2720: Footway; 2755: Highway; 1556: Legislation; 1516: Offence; 955: Parking; 912: Parking meter; 612: Peak hour; 1502: Penalty; 1522: Police; 311: Town centre; 633: Traffic restraint; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Security and Emergencies; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00393338
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-905545-04-4
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM