Bristol’s parking scene: over 50,000 cars to park

National World - LocalTV

With over 50,000 cars and shrinking on-street spaces, drivers are feeling the squeeze.From Montpelier to Southville, residents and visitors are frustrated — by cost, controlled zones, and the cashless shift. So, what’s the future of parking in a greener, net-zero Bristol?

Transcript

00:00If you've tried to park in Bristol lately, you'll know it's no easy feat. With more than

00:0650,000 cars registered in the city and a growing push towards greener transport,

00:12space is at a premium. Bristol City Council has reduced the number of on-street parking bays

00:20in central zones over the past five years, while introducing new cycle lanes and pedestrian zones.

00:27It's a move welcomed by some, but frustrating for many.

00:32I definitely don't think there is enough. People usually can't park outside their offices around

00:36here, usually get it in cities. Parking, I've heard it's gone up. I don't actually drive,

00:42I've not driven for 10 years, but a lot of people complain that the prices are going up around the

00:47city. I'm not sure that's true, but you know. I can remember being against the parking zones,

00:56but now I've got used to them, I think they're really good. I think the people visiting me can

01:02park more easily. Yeah, quite a lot to be fair, and there's only really permit areas, and I think

01:10that stops you from popping quickly to the shops and things like that. Yeah, I do find it quite annoying.

01:16Across areas like Montpellier, Southville and Bishopston, residents say that they're feeling

01:22the pressure. Controlled parking zones have been rolled out in over 15 neighbourhoods,

01:28limiting non-resident parking during the day. The aim to reduce congestion and prioritise locals,

01:35but for visitors, tradespeople and even some residents with multiple cars is creating daily

01:41headache. I have an opinion, to be honest, people park outside my house, but it's free parking,

01:46so yeah, there's that. And then there's the cost. Parking in central Bristol can set you back up to

01:53£5 an hour. Even short stays in council-run car parks can quickly add up. The introduction of Ringo app

02:01has made paying more convenient for some, but for those without smartphones or who prefer cash,

02:09is often the source of frustration. Good watch of free parking permits, which seem to be enough for me.

02:20I think if you have a carer, you can get special dispensation for them to park,

02:27and when maintenance people, you used to have to give them a ticket because they would otherwise,

02:39I don't know what happens. But now they've mostly got geared up that their employers have some sort of

02:46overall ticket. They don't ask for tickets anymore. I get why they exist for people because that would be

02:52really inconvenient if you couldn't park outside your own house. That's completely fair enough. I think

02:56they're inconvenient for quick social moments.

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