Off-Street Parking Choice Sensitivity

Golias, John; Yannis, George; Harvatis, Michel · 2002 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1080/0308106022000019620

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Summary

This study investigates the determinants influencing drivers' choices between on-street and off-street parking in high-density urban areas. Motivated by the need for effective travel demand management and parking policies that alleviate traffic congestion, the research aims to quantify how specific cost and time parameters affect parking behavior. While previous studies often focused on modal split or relied on fixed assumptions, this work utilizes stated preference techniques to directly model the choice between parking alternatives, providing a more precise understanding of driver sensitivity to policy variables. The methodology involved a questionnaire-based survey conducted in the city center of Piraeus, Greece. Researchers interviewed 317 drivers using a random sampling method during typical traffic conditions. The survey employed stated preference scenarios where drivers chose between on-street parking, off-street parking, or refusing both options. Each scenario varied in parking cost, search time, walking time to the destination, and parking duration. The data were analyzed using a disaggregate binary logit model to predict choice behavior. The model development process tested various driver and trip characteristics (such as age, income, and trip purpose) alongside parking-specific variables, ultimately retaining only those with statistical significance. The results indicate that parking cost is the most significant factor influencing the choice of parking alternatives, with higher costs significantly reducing the share of off-street parking. All other significant variables are time-related: the time saved by avoiding on-street search, the duration of parking, and the walking time from the parking space to the final destination. Specifically, the model shows that drivers assess walking time and parking cost relative to the time gained by avoiding search uncertainty. Conversely, driver and trip characteristics, including age, gender, income, and trip purpose, had no significant impact on parking choice decisions. The model demonstrated a satisfactory goodness of fit, with predicted off-street parking shares varying from 1% to 90% depending on parameter values. The significance of this research lies in its provision of a validated methodology for predicting driver behavior regarding parking alternatives. By identifying cost and time savings as the dominant factors, the findings offer valuable input for urban planners designing parking policies. The model can help determine the necessary number of off-street spaces and appropriate pricing strategies to effectively shift drivers from on-street to off-street parking. This shift can free up valuable road space, improve traffic conditions, and enhance the overall quality of life in dense urban centers. The study confirms that while cost is primary, the reduction of search time uncertainty is a critical psychological and practical driver for choosing off-street facilities.

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• speed choice