Thomas Dermine, who is preparing to become mayor of Charleroi, announces his first measures to revitalize the city center and support local businesses. Among them, a return of the car to the city center with more parking spaces and a free first hour. But the real impact of this measure on businesses is debated.
Making parking completely free could have effects contrary to those expected for businesses. According to the Town Center Management Agency, free parking leads to undesirable behavior: vehicles are parked all day, often without connection to stores, which reduces the availability of spaces for real customers. So, instead of stimulating trade, free parking can have a deterrent effect, with customers struggling to find a space.
For favorable results, the Agency recommends one or two hours of free parking, with no option to pay to stay longer. This limitation encourages vehicle rotation and allows a maximum number of customers to visit businesses on the same day. On the other hand, a duration that is too short – for example 30 minutes – is generally only sufficient for small errands, unless the parking lot is located very close to the stores.
The Agency also points out that the car remains a key factor in shopping-related travel, as illustrated by shopping centers, where free parking is often a major asset in attracting customers.
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Charleroi merchant parking
Belgium
