Car park crunch: More radical solutions needed, say experts
By Tan Weizhen, TODAY | Posted: 27 December 2011 0616 hrs
SINGAPORE: Even as the authorities look into the idea of mechanised car parks, some analysts pointed out the challenges - such as maintenance and costs - with such a system.
Instead, they suggested more innovative ideas, including creating a private market for parking spaces and allocating different zones for vehicles of different sizes.
National University of Singapore transport expert Lee Der Horng noted that it is "very common" in some cities in the United States to group cars of similar sizes together.
Said Associate Professor Lee: "So the smaller cars are parked in the same zone, and it's the same for the sports utility vehicles (SUVs), for instance."
Nanyang Technological University transport economist Michael Li has a more radical suggestion: Allocate each household with a car park lot and allow those who do not own any vehicles to "rent" out their lots to others, thus creating a market which would enable demand and supply to balance out.
According to the Ministry of National Development, six in 10 Housing and Development Board (HDB) households do not own cars. About a third own one car, while 5 per cent own two or more.
The transport analysts pointed out that the cheap HDB parking fees here would escalate the carpark crunch in the years to come.
In Taipei, for instance, motorists have to pay a flat fee of as much as S$200,000 for one parking lot, said Assoc Prof Lee.
He added that policymakers should think about a "market-based" solution - in which parking fees will have to be higher - for housing estates that face severe car park shortage.
Last Friday, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan wrote on his blog that, while new estates will come with adequate car parks, new solutions are needed in the older HDB estates "where there is little space to add new lots".
Mr Khaw has asked the HDB to look into mechanised parking systems but he noted there are "implementation issues" to be worked through.
HDB residents who spoke to TODAY generally welcomed the idea - as long as the system is thoroughly tested and properly maintained.
Some suggested a policy which require residents to secure a parking lot before they buy a vehicle - a suggestion mooted last year in this newspaper in a column by consultant Richard Hartung.
Calling for a balloting system for HDB households who wish to own more than one car, IT consultant Brandon Tan, 40, said: "HDB carparks are supposed to be for the middle-class masses ... If people want a second or third car but fail to win the ballot, then they should look for alternative parking solutions." - TODAY
By Tan Weizhen, TODAY | Posted: 27 December 2011 0616 hrs
SINGAPORE: Even as the authorities look into the idea of mechanised car parks, some analysts pointed out the challenges - such as maintenance and costs - with such a system.
Instead, they suggested more innovative ideas, including creating a private market for parking spaces and allocating different zones for vehicles of different sizes.
National University of Singapore transport expert Lee Der Horng noted that it is "very common" in some cities in the United States to group cars of similar sizes together.
Said Associate Professor Lee: "So the smaller cars are parked in the same zone, and it's the same for the sports utility vehicles (SUVs), for instance."
Nanyang Technological University transport economist Michael Li has a more radical suggestion: Allocate each household with a car park lot and allow those who do not own any vehicles to "rent" out their lots to others, thus creating a market which would enable demand and supply to balance out.
According to the Ministry of National Development, six in 10 Housing and Development Board (HDB) households do not own cars. About a third own one car, while 5 per cent own two or more.
The transport analysts pointed out that the cheap HDB parking fees here would escalate the carpark crunch in the years to come.
In Taipei, for instance, motorists have to pay a flat fee of as much as S$200,000 for one parking lot, said Assoc Prof Lee.
He added that policymakers should think about a "market-based" solution - in which parking fees will have to be higher - for housing estates that face severe car park shortage.
Last Friday, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan wrote on his blog that, while new estates will come with adequate car parks, new solutions are needed in the older HDB estates "where there is little space to add new lots".
Mr Khaw has asked the HDB to look into mechanised parking systems but he noted there are "implementation issues" to be worked through.
HDB residents who spoke to TODAY generally welcomed the idea - as long as the system is thoroughly tested and properly maintained.
Some suggested a policy which require residents to secure a parking lot before they buy a vehicle - a suggestion mooted last year in this newspaper in a column by consultant Richard Hartung.
Calling for a balloting system for HDB households who wish to own more than one car, IT consultant Brandon Tan, 40, said: "HDB carparks are supposed to be for the middle-class masses ... If people want a second or third car but fail to win the ballot, then they should look for alternative parking solutions." - TODAY
