Parking at shops

Adequate and affordable parking for motorists visiting shops is essential to the vitality of the retail sector, according to the RAC Foundation in response to a report on "Sustainable transport choices and the retail sector" published by the Commission for Integrated Transport.

The Foundation believes that the CFIT report underestimates the importance of parking and is unrealistic in its recommendations such as "quality public transport – particularly Park & Ride which is seen as a solution for rural shoppers with no alternative to using the car."

Parking is an essential part of every journey. If the driver cannot park, the journey is frustrated, just as if a train were unable to reach the station. An NOP Automotive survey commissioned for the RAC Foundation shows that parking generates strong feelings as parking or lack of parking can determine where we live, work, shop and play.

The RAC Foundation survey revealed:

29% of people have given up their journey and gone home due to lack of parking.
28% of people have searched for more than 20 minutes for a parking space at their intended destination.
14% of people have parked in a disabled space due to lack of parking.
45% of people don’t feel safe walking through most car-parks at night.
Typically drivers spend around 6 minutes driving in the centre of town actively seeking a parking place.

The Foundation feels that parking should be an integral part of transport policy. Finding parking can be a source of stress to motorists, and the problem will get worse as car ownership and use grows.

Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation said: " Of course, the RAC Foundation is in favour of good public transport but many types of trip can only be made by car. Shopping is the most frequent reason for travel in the UK, accounting for 20% of all trips and for 12% of mileage. Two thirds of shopping trips are done by car. The average number of shopping trips per person has fallen but the length of trip has increased to 4.2 miles.

"For most families the car is the only realistic mode for weekly grocery shopping. It is unrealistic for CFIT to recommend that public transport could provide a solution in rural areas. Even families who do not own cars tend to use cars or taxis to help carry their weekly shopping.

" We will be presenting our own report on shopping and travel trends to Ministers later in the year."