The impact of on-street parking regulations on car ownership – a case of Berlin

Abstract

Car Ownership leads to frequent car use. Consequences of car use are widely researched, ranging from producing emissions (air, noise, greenhouse gases) to causing road accidents. Despite every trip begins and ends with parking, its important relation to car ownership and the subsequent consumption of scarce urban place is under-researched. In particular, there is few research about how the introduction of parking regulation zones (paid parking for visitors; required purchase of parking permits for residents) affects private car ownership. In this thesis, I employ a two-way fixed effect model using panel data (2008–2019) and difference-in differences estimations to determine the causal relation between introducing regulated parking zones and car ownership, as well as the possible impact of a city-wide extension of this policy tool in Berlin. My results show that the introduction of paid on-street parking to reduce visitor/non-resident demand had no significant impact on resident car ownership levels (who benefit from very low-priced parking permits: €10,20 per year). As the city of Berlin is planning on extending these zones to the whole city, I discuss the practical implications of my results with the conclusion that this strategy does not suffice to reduce car ownership levels in Berlin. In contrast, it reproduces unfair patterns of street space distribution. Hence, an alternative, citywide parking strategy is recommended. This knowledge is important to inform policies aiming at reducing car ownership levels to foster a sustainable and just mobility transition.