Parking charges may increase in move towards being car-lite: Lawrence Wong
Car park charges may increase as Singapore moves towards being a car-lite city, said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong in parliament on Monday (11 April).
Member of Parliament Lim Biow Chuan earlier asked if the ministry could provide free parking for car park spaces that are being under-utilised, to which Wong replied, “Free parking is not free, it’s a subsidy to the motorist, paid for by non-motorists.”
Wong said that car park charges in Singapore act as an “important lever” towards achieving the goal of a car-lite city, and they are generally lower than in other major cities.
Besides increasing car park charges, MND is also looking into facilitating more car-sharing schemes.
The ministry announced plans to improve park connector routes for Singaporeans to enjoy a more “seamless” journey between HDB towns and city centers, and expand car-free zones across the country.
Wong also unveiled the “Our Favourite Place” programme, which will be spearheaded by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), to support projects initiated by the community to facilitate interactions at car-free public spaces.
In a bid to improve connectivity, MND will dedicate more paths within HDB towns for “active mobility”, such as walking, jogging or cycling, and plan more pedestrian connections along Orchard Road.
