Beijing unveils new plans to regulate parking fees
By Liu Weifeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-11 06:28

Measures to encourage drivers to park their vehicles in underground facilities instead of street-level spaces in residential areas in Beijing have been drawn up.

The capital's city planners unveiled the plans after tension in many communities over charges and a lack of spaces.

Short-term charges will be up to one yuan (12 US cents) per hour for street-level spaces under the proposals.

But parking in underground garages will be free for the first hour.

The current fee is at least two yuan (24 US cents) per hour in lots of communities.

"The move is obviously aiming to encourage more drivers to use the underground land resources to alleviate the open air parking tension," said Wang Yan, an official with Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform.

The proposals were drawn up by the commission and Beijing Construction Committee.

It has been put out for public consultation until next Saturday.

"It's definitely good news for the property owners," commented an anonymous source from China Property Management Institute (CPMI).

It is estimated only about 50 per cent of spaces in underground garages in Beijing are used.

"I prefer at the moment to park in the open air with lower charges and convenient driving and parking position despite of a better shelter underground," said Liang Bo, a Beijinger.

But he added he might now reconsider it if the new charges were introduced.

"No one wants his car exposed too much to the outdoors, especially when rainstorms and scorching days fall, if you take the parking cost out of consideration," he said.

Property owners with vehicles have monthly open air parking charges of 150 yuan (US$18.75) and 210 yuan (US$26) for medium-sized cars and longer vehicles respectively. Monthly underground parking fees are subject to specific negotiations between property owner committees and developers.

(China Daily 02/11/2006 page2)