#Japan #Park 24 #Shinagawa #Times Club #street parking

Awareness on Street Parking: Insights from Park 24’s Survey

In an effort to address the growing issues surrounding street parking, Park 24 Co., headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, conducted a survey for members of its exclusive service, Times Club, ahead of "Park Day" on August 9. This initiative aims to raise awareness and curb the societal problems associated with illegal parking.

Since the establishment of Park Day in 1998, Park 24 has continually promoted these awareness efforts, encouraging individuals to reflect on the negative impact of street parking at least once a year. Despite a consistent decline in parking violations—reported to be under one million incidents since 2021—2023 witnessed a troubling spike in accidents linked to parked vehicles, totaling 1,505 incidents resulting in 39 tragic fatalities. The consequences of street parking extend beyond accidents, exacerbating traffic congestion and obstructing emergency vehicles.

Survey Results Summary

The survey revealed critical insights about public sentiments towards street parking:

Dangerous Experiences

A staggering 86% of respondents admitted they had felt endangered while driving due to street parking. This highlights a pressing concern for drivers navigating city streets.

Personal Experience

Over half (56%) of participants acknowledged having parked on the street at some point. When narrowing the timeframe to within the last two years, this figure drops to 22%, indicating that approximately 78% had avoided street parking recently. Notably, this percentage of those who parked on the street within two years has halved compared to ten years ago, suggesting a gradual shift in behavior.

Reasons for Street Parking

Those who had parked on the street cited various reasons: 56% stated the duration of their stay was too brief to justify using a parking lot. Other reasons included the absence of nearby parking facilities (24%) and low traffic volume (9%). The consistency in these reasons over the past three years suggests a need for better parking infrastructure.

Changing Behavior

When asked why they no longer engage in street parking, 52% of past street parkers attributed it to stricter enforcement. Additionally, 35% mentioned increased awareness of the dangers associated with street parking, while 31% noted the rise in parking facilities. The survey reinforces the positive trend, indicating that continuous awareness initiatives and stricter regulations have contributed to the decline in street parking habits.

The Path Forward

Despite the progress, nearly 30% of respondents who had parked on the street reported obstacles such as unavailable parking spaces. Thus, improving parking availability could further diminish street parking incidents and their associated issues.

Park 24 is committed to expanding its time-limited parking services, such as Times Parking and reservation-based parking options through Times no B, aiming for an environment where vehicles can be parked anytime a driver desires. This year, through an ongoing series of awareness campaigns for Park Day, the organization strives to promote a safer society free from the risks of street parking.

Survey Methodology

Conducted exclusively among Times Club members, the survey collected responses from 4,811 individuals who joined after February 27, 2024, and had utilized Park 24 services like time-limited parking, reservation parking, car-sharing, and rental services. The survey employed a non-public internet questionnaire format between February 27 and March 10, 2025. It is important to note that due to rounding, total percentages may not equal 100.

As Park 24 continues to champion safe parking solutions, the imperative remains clear: fostering awareness and reinstating safe driving practices is vital for a harmonious urban experience.