Lower parking tariff for low emission vehicles in Graz
Since 1 April, there is a 30 percent reduction in parking fees for low emission vehicles (electric cars park for free). The new differentiated parking system, initiated through Trendsetter, will hopefully encourage more citizens to use vehicles with less environmental impact.
Drivers of non-low emission vehicles pay €1,20 per hour, whereas it only costs €0,80 per hour to park low emission vehicles. Hence, the new scheme gives real benefits to low emission vehicles and provides a popular selling point of the new system.
To obtain the special tariff drivers have to register their vehicle at the city council. They receive a token (Umweltjeton) and a sticker. The sticker is an official document, filled out by the city and includes registration number, type and colour of car and the official seal of the city of Graz. The Umweltjeton and the sticker are free of charge. The sticker is valid for up to two years, after this the user has to apply for an extension of the sticker. "The Umweltjeton is inserted into the parking machine and this allows for a reduced tariff," explains Gerhard Ablasser, chief of the Graz office for urban development and town preservation. The parking ticket is marked in the upper corner with a U, which stands for Umweltticket (environmental ticket). The sticker has to be located on the dashboard behind the windscreen and be clearly visible.
To get the reduction, the vehicle has to be classified as low polluting according to certain EU regulations (EURO IV). Also, CO2 emission must be less than 140g per kilometer (130g for diesel vehicles, including a filter for particulate matters).
Before the lower parking tariff was introduced, the city of Graz faced some problems during the preparation period of about a year. Legal regulations, in particularly the local law, which defines the parking tariffs, had to be changed.
"A paragraph that declares the term low emission vehicles and the special tariff applied was added," says Gerhard Ablasser.
Now, when the new parking system is running, the City of Graz tries to promote low emission vehicles by contacting car dealers. Car dealers are directly in contact with car buyers and play a key role in motivating their customers.
MORE INFORMATION:
Gerhard Ablasser, Stadt Graz, +43 316 8724203, gerhard.ablasser@stadt.graz.at
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