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12 foolproof ways to get cars out of cities
April 18, 2022/
A new study ranks the 12 most effective measures that European cities have introduced, ranging from the ‘carrot’ of bike-to-work schemes to the ‘stick’ of removing free parking.
City car use reduction strategies ranked
| 1. Congestion charge | Drivers pay to enter city centre | Revenues go to city’s sustainable transport schemes | 12-33% reduction in city-centre cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. Parking & traffic control | Remove parking spaces, alter traffic routes | Replace parking spaces with bike lanes and walkways, add car-free streets | 11-19% drop in city-centre cars |
| 3. Limited traffic zone | Exclude cars from part of the city (except residents) | Violation fines fund public transport | 10-20% reduction in city-centre cars |
| 4. Mobility service for commuters | Workers given free public transport pass, then private shuttles to workplace | 37% drop in car commuters | |
| 5. Workplace parking charge | Drivers pay to park at work | Cash-out scheme for employees to use public transport; parking revenues fund public transport | 8-25% reduction in car commuters |
| 6. Workplace travel planning | Parking management and removal of spaces | Discounts for public transport; improved bike infrastructure; advice to help commuters use public transport/walk/cycle | 3-18% drop in car use by commuters |
| 7. University travel planning | Reduced parking on campus | Discounts for public transport; improved bike infrastructure; advice and promotion to students and staff of car alternatives | 7-27% reduction in car use by university commuters |
| 8. Mobility services for university | Free public transport pass and shuttle connections for students | 24% drop in students commuting by car | |
| 9. Car sharing | Car sharing access integrated to work and neighbourhoods | 12-15 private cars replaced by each shared car | |
| 10. School travel planning | Advice and events to help students and parents walk, cycle or carpool to school | 5-11% reduction in car use for school trips | |
| 11. Personalised travel planning | Discounted public transport; advice to help city residents walk and cycle | 6-12% drop in car use share among residents |
By Kimberly Nicholas
