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Columnist and Environment

Hiking parking costs is a great way to reduce car usage

A huge increase in parking costs in my home of York has provoked outrage. This may sound like a local problem, but reducing car use is an issue for all of us, says Graham Lawton

By Graham Lawton

21 May 2025

D4B636 Brighton Sussex UK 11 March 2013 - A damaged Brighton and Hove city council parking meter in Queens Park

“We all subsidise car owners, not the other way round.”

Simon Dack/Alamy

There is a hardware store on my local high street renowned not just for its excellent and reasonably priced products, but also for the witty messages written on a chalkboard by its entrance. Right now, it reads, “500% increase in parking tariffs; Trump jealous”.

This is probably lost on anyone who doesn’t live in York, UK, but will be recognisable (and funny) to anyone who does. It refers to a controversy that has become the talk of the town, and could turn out to be a test case for any city in the world…

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