Solving the Severe Car Parking Problem in Athens City Center

Parking in the center of Athens has become an increasingly challenging scenario, especially in the post-COVID years. While the city has seen a growth in businesses and an influx of workers from all around the city, the center itself struggles to accommodate the vehicles of employees, residents, and daily visitors. As a result, parking in central Athens has become a daily ordeal, consuming valuable time. Thousands of Athenians are desperately searching for permanent parking solutions, yet even large commercial parking facilities seem unable to meet the demand. This article explores the severity of the car parking problem in Athens city center and proposes interventions that authorities should consider to alleviate this issue.

The Current Situation

In the greater Athens region, there are approximately 1,5M households, with 450K located in the city center alone. According to ELSTAT data, 60-70% of these households own one or two vehicles, which highlights the potential parking challenges.

Specifically, out of the 450K households in Athens, only 80K have a permanent parking space. This leaves a significant portion of citizens and residents struggling to find alternative parking spots, which often do not include their residential parking areas. Many Athenian workers who commute to the center also face difficulties in finding parking spaces, consuming a significant amount of their time.

Parking management in the city center falls under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Athens. The Controlled Parking System (CPS) implemented by the Municipality of Athens aims to provide a solution for residents and visitors alike. According to the official municipal website, parking on central streets in Athens has become more accessible due to the CPS, where drivers can park their vehicles in designated spaces by paying a corresponding fee based on the duration of parking. The CPS allocates parking spaces with blue lines for residents, white lines for visitors, and yellow lines for commercial vehicles. The municipality has created 3,463 spaces for visitors, 1,604 for motorcycles, 5,177 for permanent residents, and 1,000 for disabled individuals. However, despite these efforts, parking in the city center remains a challenging task, especially considering the ongoing growth in the area. Each time a parking spot becomes vacant on a central street, it is quickly occupied due to the high number of drivers continuously searching for available spaces.

Challenges in Specific Areas

Certain areas in the city center, such as Kolonaki and Ermou Street, are particularly problematic when it comes to parking. The cost and availability of parking spaces in these areas make parking a complex and difficult task.

For instance, a parking facility on Ypsilantou Street in Kolonaki charges €350 per month for parking a small car with very limited availability. According to the parking facility manager, a parking spot becomes available only once every two to three years. Similar pricing and availability issues are found in other parking facilities in the Kolonaki area, with costs ranging from €200 to €225 per month. In most cases, finding a parking spot in these areas is nearly impossible, as parking facilities are fully occupied, and waiting lists include 30 to 60 vehicles, resulting in waiting periods ranging from 2 to 3 months up to 1 to 2 years. As a result, many private vehicle owners are left with no choice but to look for parking solutions elsewhere.

Key central streets, such as Solonos, Karneadou, Vassileos Georgiou, Xenofontos, Kriezotou, Perikleous, Omirou, and Rizari, currently host the majority of private parking facilities. These streets are home to numerous professional offices, leading to a high demand for parking spaces. For example, the parking facility on Karneadou Street is almost impossible to access because it is primarily used by lawyers and their clients, a situation that has persisted for many years. On Omirou Street, a 24-hour parking facility employee explains that all the spots are also consistently occupied, and this has become a common phenomenon after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Impact of the Pandemic

The effects of the pandemic, combined with the reluctance of many citizens to use time-consuming public transportation, suggest that the city center will continue to be congested with vehicles. Permanent parking spaces may remain a distant urban myth for many, and finding a parking spot will continue to be a challenge.

Proposed Solutions and Interventions

Addressing the severe car parking problem in Athens city center requires a multifaceted approach that involves urban planning, infrastructure development, and innovative solutions. Here are some proposals and interventions that authorities should consider:

1. Increase Public Transportation: To reduce the reliance on private vehicles, authorities should invest in improving and expanding the public transportation system. This includes enhancing the efficiency, coverage, and frequency of buses, trams, and the metro.
2. Promote Carpooling and Ridesharing: Encourage citizens to share rides through carpooling and ridesharing platforms. Incentives such as discounted parking fees for carpoolers could be implemented to promote this practice.
3. Develop Park-and-Ride Facilities: Establish park-and-ride facilities at the outskirts of the city, where commuters can leave their vehicles and easily transfer to public transportation for their daily commute.
4. Implement Congestion Pricing: Introduce congestion pricing in the city center, where drivers are charged a fee for accessing certain areas during peak hours. This can help reduce traffic congestion and encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation.
5. Expand Parking Facilities: Construct new parking facilities in high-demand areas like Kolonaki and Ermou Street. These facilities should prioritize accommodating residents, workers, and visitors, ensuring reasonable pricing and efficient management.
6. Digital Parking Solutions: Implement digital parking solutions such as mobile apps that allow drivers to locate available parking spaces and pay for parking electronically. This can reduce the time spent searching for parking.
7. Encourage Cycling and Walking: Create dedicated bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly zones in the city center to encourage people to choose these eco-friendly modes of transportation for short trips.
8. Flexible Work Policies: Encourage businesses to adopt flexible work policies, including remote work options and staggered work hours, to reduce the number of employees commuting to the city center daily.
9. Urban Greening: Enhance the attractiveness of public transportation by investing in green infrastructure, such as tree-lined streets and pleasant urban spaces, to make walking and using public transport more appealing.
10. Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the benefits of reducing private vehicle use, highlighting the environmental, economic, and personal advantages of alternative transportation methods.

In few words:

The car parking problem in Athens city center is indeed a severe and complex issue. However, with careful planning and a combination of interventions, the city can take significant steps toward alleviating the problem. Encouraging alternative transportation methods, expanding parking facilities, and improving public transportation are key strategies that can lead to a more accessible and livable city center. By working together, city authorities, businesses, and citizens can contribute to a sustainable and less congested urban environment.

(photo: https://www.athensvoice.gr/)