INFORMAL PARK AND RIDE BEHAVIOUR IN LONDON

Many parts of London suffer from high levels of on-street parking in residential areas where properties were constructed when car ownership was low. The rise in car ownership amongst residents of these areas is putting increasing pressure on those on-street parking places available, especially when there is a major trip attractor, such as a rail station, in the vicinity. Concern has been expressed about the level of parking that occurs in areas around some rail stations in London. It has been claimed that much of the parking problem in station areas is caused by motorists parking a vehicle prior to travelling onward by rail. This type of parking act is commonly called informal park and ride or railheading. It is reported that many of the vehicles are left parked on-street for a significant proportion of the working day thereby inhibiting those who will be returning home with their vehicle or those wishing to visit the area. This study has investigated the parking behaviour of motorists leaving a vehicle on-street in three areas of London where Tube stations are located to seek to determine whether the parking problem is caused by railheaders. Results from the study indicate that the railheader is not the major contributor to the high level of on- street parking nor that those parking have driven a long distance prior to leaving their vehicle as has been postulated by some parties. (A)