Environmental Studies Research Series Working Papers 2003 Testing the Sensitivity of Parking Behaviour and Modal Choice to the Price of On-street Parking

Parking pricing has been suggested as a 'second-best' approach to managing road space. However, its effectiveness will depend upon the responsiveness of parking behaviour and modal choice to the price of parking. This paper examines the sensitivity of parking behaviour and modal choice to the price of on-street parking in the city of Dublin, Ireland. This analysis utilises contingent valuation data sets from two large-scale surveys of on-street parkers in a prime area for parking in the centre of the city. On aggregate over the two surveys, some 70% of the users surveyed indicated a behavioural change to a hypothetical localised only onstreet parking price increase scenario. Results indicate that the most likely impact of the localised price increase amongst those who reacted is parking relocation, with 75% on aggregate over the two surveys choosing this option. Such relocation was predominantly to a multistory facility. The remainder of the reactions were accounted for by modal alternatives at 15% of users on aggregate over the two surveys, and trip cancellation at 6%. The balance were indecisive about their reaction, other than to stop parking in the newly higher priced area. Although quality of modal substitutes and the scale of parking price change are clear factors, results show significant potential for parking policy to cause a modal shift, especially were a more widespread approach taken to the price increases. Citation: Clinch, J.P and Kelly, J.A. (2003). “Testing the Sensitivity of Parking Behaviour and Modal choice to the Price of On-Street Parking”, Environmental Studies Research Series (ESRS) Working Paper 03/03, Department of Environmental Studies, University College Dublin. Correspondence to: Andrew Kelly, Department of Environmental Studies, University College Dublin, Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, Ireland. Tel: +353-1-269 7988; Fax: +353-1-283 2795; E-mail: [email protected] ESRS 03/03 University College Dublin 2 Testing the Sensitivity of Parking Behaviour and Modal Choice to the Price of On-Street Parking J.P. Clinch and J.A Kelly ESRS 03/03 University College Dublin 3 Testing the Sensitivity of Parking Behaviour and Modal Choice to the Price of On-Street Parking J.P. Clinch and J.A Kelly