After Paris, Bordeaux is moving on to taxing SUVs. The city will “review the parking pricing policy, by taxing more heavily the heaviest and most bulky vehicles on the road,” the environmentalist mayor, Pierre Hurmic, announced this Thursday during his greetings to the press.
In 2024, the Paris Council adopted a deliberation implementing the tripling of parking rates for heavy, bulky and polluting vehicles, following a public vote. This pricing, which does not concern Parisian residents, came into force on October 1.
“Common or family vehicles are not affected”
“The direction of history is towards small vehicles in the city, which take up less space, which pollute less, and which are significantly less dangerous for pedestrians in the event of an accident,” he explained. Castigating “these selfish vehicles”, the elected official recalled that in Bordeaux, “we have a lot of small narrow streets, with cycle paths going against the flow, and when a large SUV enters them, it doesn’t work. »
Our file on parking
While he did not want to go into detail about the measure on Thursday, the city finally disclosed all the elements on Friday. The new rate “will be introduced from May 2 for the heaviest cars” we learn. “A 30% increase will be applied compared to the rate in force in the different sectors of Bordeaux. » This increased rate will apply automatically depending on the vehicle registration number.
“Owners of these larger vehicles will have to pay this increased rate when they wish to park in the streets of Bordeaux. This increase concerns subscriptions and the hourly rate. On the other hand, the subscription of professionals is exempt. »
The vehicles concerned will be those weighing more than 1,600 kg for thermal models (i.e. those targeted by the “penalty” already established by the State) and 1,900 kg for hybrids and electrics. “Common or family vehicles are not affected,” specifies the town hall, citing as an example “the 25 most common vehicles in the French automobile fleet (Clio, 208, Dacia Sandero, C3, etc.), thermal family cars such as Renault Scénic or C4 Picasso, hybrid family cars like Peugeot 3008 hybrid. »
“Their bulky volume reduces parking capacity”
To justify its choice, the city explains that “the heaviest vehicles, particularly large SUVs, are the least environmentally friendly: they consume more resources, generate more pollution and increase CO₂ emissions (+ 20%). greenhouse gases).
Furthermore, “their weight accelerates the deterioration of roads and sidewalks, with additional costs for the community” and “their bulky volume reduces parking capacity, also impacting traffic in a dense city like Bordeaux. » Finally, “their height limits the visibility of pedestrians and cyclists: a pedestrian is up to twice as likely to be killed in the event of a collision with an SUV compared to a standard car. »
Source: www.20minutes.fr
