Discrimination against SUV drivers: Paris triples parking fees for heavy cars
It's hard to believe: The city of Paris is planning to triple the parking fees for heavy cars. A targeted attack on SUV drivers, who in future will have to pay 18 euros per hour when they park their vehicle in the French capital. Once again, it is the drivers who are being asked to pay - and this time it is the owners of large cars who are being hit particularly hard.
Paris is planning drastic discrimination against SUV drivers. In future, heavy vehicles are to pay three times as much as light vehicles for parking. The reasoning: The vehicles contribute significantly more to air pollution through tyre, brake and road abrasion and take up significantly more space on the roads than small vehicles. This affects combustion vehicles over 1.6 tonnes and electric cars over 2 tonnes. They would then have to pay 18 euros per hour.
Another problem with the planned regulation is that Parisians are to be exempt from the high parking tariffs. This is particularly annoying because it shows that the Parisian government is not serious enough to take the anger of its own citizens seriously. This measure would be so clearly discriminatory towards commuters and visitors who have to come to the city for business or pleasure. Why do they have to bear the costs while residents are spared? Is this the new form of hospitality in Paris?
Of course it is important to take care of the environment and take measures to improve air quality. But this measure hits the wrong people. It is not the SUV drivers who are responsible for the environmental problems, but the politicians who are failing to find sustainable solutions for transport and mobility in the future.
The measure will be decided in a referendum on 4 February 2024, and it is commendable that the city of Paris is allowing its citizens to vote on this controversial measure. This ensures a democratic process in which every resident can cast their vote. Of course, if Parisians are not directly affected, you can guess what the decision will be.
The decision of the referendum is legally binding. So if the Parisians decide in favour of the measure, it will soon be expensive for heavy cars in Paris. However, the city can then prepare itself for complaints of discrimination, as some of those affected will certainly not put up with the unfair measure.
The planned parking fee increase for heavy cars in Paris is another slap in the face for SUV drivers and commuters. It is to be hoped that the citizens of Paris will reject this unfair measure and vote in favour of a fair and sustainable mobility policy instead. Because it is not fair to discriminate against and penalise individual groups while sparing others. It is time for us all to work together for a better and more sustainable future.