Car-sharing gets easier in Budapest: companies may receive ample parking spaces
Provided the local governments of Budapest and the capital’s districts arrive at an agreement, numerous parking spaces could be reallocated from drivers and residents to car-sharing companies. This adjustment stems from the constant challenge car-sharing drivers face when finding available parking, which leads to increased costs as they have to circle around their destination.
As reported by telex.hu, drivers in Budapest spend significant time searching for an empty parking spot, which escalates the ride cost considerably by the minute. It’s not uncommon for the time spent looking for parking to exceed the duration of the actual journey.
To tackle or at least ease the struggle, a parliamentary bill has been introduced. This proposal would permit car-sharing companies to acquire parking spaces in downtown pay zones. Additionally, such cars could even use parking spaces designated exclusively for local residents. Furthermore, the Hungarian parliament aims to extend the discounts currently offered by local governments to local drivers.
The bill empowers local governments to allocate parking spaces to car-sharing companies, albeit without specifying details such as the number or size of these spaces.
Plentiful parking lots just like in the west
Three service companies operate in Budapest: Wigo (Share Now), Mol Limo, and Greengo. The content of the bill aligns with practices in several Western European cities. Cities like Bremen, Dresden, Berlin and Hamburg have allocated parking spaces for car-sharing companies to promote their use.
The question remains whether local governments will make the bold decision to reassign residential parking spaces to car-sharing companies. Such a move is likely to trigger public outcry, especially with elections coming up next June.
Budapest is crippled with a shortage of parking spaces, prompting several districts, including the VI., VII. and XIII., to prohibit such cars from areas designated for locals.
Conflicts between central and local governments
Residents still tend to choose their car over car-sharing in Budapest, even for short 10-minute rides. Even though, the scheme would have the potential to substitute 10-15 thousand individual rides in the Hungarian capital, given that one shared vehicle can replace 7-10 private cars in traffic. Moreover, car-sharing is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, with many cars being electric, aligning with the interests of the capital and its residents.
While car-sharing parking spaces currently exist in Budapest, they are typically situated under office buildings and in garages. The proposed bill aims to establish parking lots similar to the popular MOL Bubi bikes.
This issue is poised to provoke further conflicts between local governments and the Orbán cabinet, as the current bill seeks to curtail several regulatory powers of local governments. Car-sharing companies, however, are likely to welcome the prospect of utilising residential parking spaces in the downtown area.
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