In Western European cities, it is reasonable to suppose that, on average, each household will spend at least XEU 50 per annum on parking charges. A city with a population of 2 million can therefore be expected to possess a public car parking income of about XEU 40 million. Unlike Western Europe, Central European cities have not been redeveloped over the last 50 years to accommodate large car parks and private parking facilities, but their car ownership rates are rising to Western European levels. Streets are therefore cluttered with parked cars and public transport is rendered less attractive because parking is free. At first sight, private investment in car parks and on-street control should be obtainable without international bank assistance. However, for an effective "parking market" to exist, the city authorities must possess a highly sophisticated institutional framework. There is, for example, little point in building an expensive underground car park in an area where free parking is available on street; but it would be difficult to impose on-street payment if the legal system does not allow the planning authority to prosecute offenders and retain fines. At a simpler level, enforcement is difficult if the Police vehicle registration number system cannot be accessed. Based upon a five year long involvement with the introduction of parking control in Budapest and more recent involvement with a Polish city, the paper describes the reasons why the international banks need to assist Central European Cities in the establishment of organisations capable of controlling car parking and of obtaining income.
Abstract