To Protect the Environment: Paris Triples SUV Parking Fees

Residents of the French capital, Paris, voted in a referendum on Sunday to triple the parking fees for large SUVs as the city moves forward with a long-term plan to transform into a bike-friendly city. The city hall announced that the referendum, which comes less than a year after residents voted in favor of banning e-scooters, aims to triple the parking fees for vehicles weighing 1.6 tons and above to 18 euros ($19) per hour to discourage the ownership of "large and polluting" cars. The new tariff will also apply to electric vehicles weighing 2 tons and more. Parisian streets have changed under the leadership of socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo, with the establishment of 84 kilometers of bike lanes since 2020 and a 71% increase in bike usage between the end of the COVID-19 lockdown and 2023, according to the city council. However, these changes have caused frustration among drivers. The popularity of SUVs has increased in France, particularly favored by families. The referendum results are expected to be announced around 2030 GMT this evening.