Dealing with car parking

The number of cars in the Netherlands is likely to increase over the coming years: from 7 million now to nine million in 2020. Calculations performed by the Ministry ofTransport, Public Works and Water Managementin the early 1990s showed that three parking spaces are needed for every car. This would amount to 27 million parking spaces in total, whereas there are 15.6 million places now. This is too few according to Mr Ger Koopmans, Christian Democratic MP. That is why he has initiated a policy document on car parking policy in the Netherlands, titled "Dealing with car parking".

What is a policy document?
MPs have the right to initiate policy documents, of their own accord or in cooperation with fellow MPs. A policy document is referred to the standing committee on the policy area in question. Mr Koopman's policy document is about car parking, so it will be considered by the standing committee on Transport, Public Works and Water Management. It is up to the committee to decide how to deal with a policy document initiated by MPs. The policy document "Dealing with car parking" is about the car parking policy in the Netherlands. Mr Koopmans provides some recommendations to improve the current car parking policy.

National car parking guidelines
At present, municipalities each set their own car parking policy. As a result, car parking policies and parking fees vary between communities. Mr Koopmans would like to introduce national guidelines for car parking policies. For instance, at the moment municipalities take different environmental measures in order to enhance the air quality. This could lead to confusion. National guidelines, however, would provide them with standards and criteria to hold on to. Municipalities may still adapt their car parking measures to meet local requirements.

Park an Ride
Moreover, Mr Koopmans focuses on P&R facilities. One of his proposals is to build car parks further away from towns, so that people do not need to drive into town, which can help prevent traffic jams. To make this work, park and ride facilities need to be made more attractive, for instance by providing fast and frequent transport to the cities, by charging lower parking fees and by clearly signposting P&R locations. When park and ride facilities are used optimally, there will be less traffic in the city centres and car parking will spread over more locations.