Establishing a zoned parking system in the city centre

Summary

Reducing the number of cars visiting the centre of Pecs was an important way of protecting the city’s cultural heritage.

Implementing sustainable mobility

In 2000, the Early Christian burial chambers in the centre of Pecs were included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Since then, in order to tackle the rising numbers of private cars and the increasing numbers of tourists, Pecs has been introducing pilot actions to reduce traffic-related air pollution in order to protect its heritage.

The objective of establishing a zone-model parking system was closely linked to the establishment of a car-free zone and limited access zone, with the ultimate goal of cutting the number of cars circulating in the city centre and reducing emissions and noise pollution.
Tasks were related to traffic planning and small-scale infrastructure developments (signage and park and ride facilities).

Progress

Introducing the new parking system included:

• installing new traffic signs and painting the new traffic modifications on the road surface;
• installing the new parking tickets machines;
• increasing the number of green zones in the city centre;
• increasing the number of free-of-charge parking spaces around the city centre (“green parking zone”) and introducing park and ride facilities;
   

Outcomes

The following objectives were achieved:

• Reduction in emissions through decreased traffic in the central areas of Pecs (by between 20 and 80 percent, depending on the exact location of the zone).
• Reduction in the average parking time in the city centre (by 20 to 30 percent).
• Reduction in the use of private cars in the city centre and a reduction of cars using parking facilities in the city centre.
• Reduction in air and noise pollution (by 3 percent) in the city centre.
• Creation of a better living and working environment for residents and a better environment for tourists.
• Improved conditions for the preservation and protection of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

This fact sheet has been updated by a third party on the basis of available information (not by the city itself), therefore we do not guarantee any data with respect to their content, completeness or up-to-dateness.