We are not surprised to see that the decision to allow free on-street parking in Oxford in the evenings has had little impact on traffic.
The decision was essentially a political gesture from the Tories a nice headline for its election campaign. It did not create extra parking spaces or extra time for parking. It cost £500,000 in lost revenue in a car parking fund that was in surplus anyway. And in a fund that cannot be used for general council spending.
The issue generated a lot of heat with opponents predicting dire consequences for Oxford's traffic. In the end, it is of little consequence whether you charge or not for on-street parking in Oxford in the evening. The limited spaces will be oversubscribed anyway and two hours' parking does not necessarily suit a trip to the theatre or cinema.
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