Turku weighs free half-hour parking during bridge works

Turku is considering making the first 30 minutes of downtown parking free during a bridge renovation expected to last 18 months, Yle reports. The city says it wants to keep the centre active while the work disrupts traffic.

Renovation of Tuomiokirkko Bridge is due to begin next year. One bridge will be closed completely and another to private cars, prompting concern that drivers will avoid the city centre.

Turku’s transport planning manager, Maija Norava, said the city would study the proposal’s effects before making a decision. Officials will assess whether free parking would increase the turnover of parking spaces, how parking apps such as Parkman and Easypark could handle the change, and whether it would bring more cars into the centre.

Turku’s current downtown street parking rate is 3.60 euros an hour. Free parking in city centres is uncommon, and several other large Finnish cities are considering higher fees or expanding paid parking zones.

Helsinki has the highest street parking rate among the cities discussed: four euros an hour in the city centre. Espoo raised its rates at the start of the year and is expanding its paid parking area. Tampere is considering ways to increase parking revenue, while Jyväskylä is examining an expansion of its paid zone.

Vantaa is gradually ending its one-hour free parking from October. Data from the Parkman parking app shows that cars have typically remained parked longest there among large Finnish cities. Pori, meanwhile, has no plans to introduce free parking or raise fees. In Lahti, requests to lower fees or make the initial parking period free have been made, but the city says the lost revenue would be too high given its current financial situation.

Turku has tried free parking before, including two free hours on certain streets and free weekend parking before Christmas. Both schemes led to cars staying in spaces longer, benefiting residents in nearby areas.

If Turku proceeds with the half-hour trial, it is likely to be temporary. Norava said parking fees are intended to encourage faster turnover, and the bridge works would provide a chance to assess the effects of the measure.