[sustran] Re: Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think?

[jfdoulet at yahoo.com]

Hello Paul,

I know that Beijing adopted this policy in the late 90s with no real success as people succeeded in giving a proof anyway.

Generally speaking, I found out that measures to limit car ownership or car use in emerging Asian cities have little success since car owners have the financial means to look for alternative solutions (and often cheap labor). In Hanoi, you have a chauffeur and then you don't worry about parking fees or any other form of parking-related regulations (Hanoi plans to rely on parking regulations to improve its urban transport) ; in Jakarta, you can pay people (the "jockeys") to come into your car and them comply to the high occupancy vehicle policy (this is why Jakarta is now thinking about electroning road pricing) ; etc.

So, without law enforcement, those solutions may have little impact (like anywhere else in the World...).

Jean-Francois Doulet, Associate Professor
Paris Institute of Urban Planning
(University of Paris East Creteil)
+33615253328
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Barter <peebeebarter at gmail.com>
Sender: sustran-discuss-bounces+jfdoulet=yahoo.com at list.jca.apc.org
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 08:21:41 
To: sustran-discuss<sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
Subject: [sustran] Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think?

What do sustran-discussers think of 'Proof-of-Parking' laws?

The idea is that before being allowed to register a car you would be
required to prove to local authorities that you have access to an
off-street parking space near your home. Japan has had this policy since
the 1950s.

Two small Indian states have now adopted this or others are thinking about
it (including Karnataka and Maharashtra). Last month, a national committee
(the Sundar Committee) included the possibility in draft revisions to
India's Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

This triggered some debate. See
http://www.reinventingparking.org/2011/10/india-debates-proof-of-parking-laws.htmlfor
more information on this news and the early reactions to it. There is
also more detail on proof-of-parking laws in case you want more insight.

*What do you think? Is such a policy desirable? Is it feasible? Would it
just create new corruption opportunities?*

Does anyone know more details about those Indian states that have adopted
this. How is it going?

Paul Barter
Singapore
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