The authors of the latest article, touching on the issue of parking space, include Marta Borowska-Stefańska, Mariusz Lamprecht and Szymon Wiśniewski from the Institute of the Built Environment and Spatial Policy at the Faculty of Geographical Sciences of the University of Lodz, as well as Filip Turboś from the Institute of Mathematics of the Lodz University of Technology. The text has been published in the international and prestigious scientific magazine Journal of Transport Geography.
Parking space in Lodz, especially within paid parking zones (PPZ), is characterised by high traffic volume and limited availability of parking spaces. Parking takes place mainly along the streets, and the greatest traffic is observed near key points of the city, such as Piotrkowska Street, Piłsudskiego Street or railway stations
– says Dr Marta Borowska-Stefańska from the Faculty of Geographical Sciences and she adds:
Analyses have shown that short-term parking, related to commuting to work, dominates on weekdays, while parking times are longer on weekends. There is also a large spatial variation in the intensity of parking space use, with a significant problem being the lack of a significant relationship between spatial development and the availability of public transport. This indicates the need for a flexible and locally adapted approach to parking planning and traffic management in the city centre.
The research also showed that the spatial configuration of the street network in the centre of Lodz does not have a significant impact on the way parking spaces are used. The researchers concluded that parking behaviour is more strongly dependent on specific local features, which include the proximity of points of interest (POIs), availability of services, or the availability of public transport.
At the same time, it was shown that the DBSCAN method used in the research (a data clustering approach based on density), allows for the identification of clusters of spaces heavily used by drivers and the detection of areas where parking patterns vary. In this way, three groups of streets with different levels of parking space use were distinguished.
As the scientists state in their article: "The findings indicate that the implementation of analytical techniques that integrate diverse methodologies can facilitate the formulation of adaptable strategies for the administration of public and parking spaces, thereby promoting sustainable mobility and enhancing the quality of life for residents".
As the scientist sums up:
The research provides valuable information that can support the city of Lodz authorities in planning their parking policy more consciously and effectively. Identification of local patterns of parking space usage allows for better adjustment of paid parking zones to the actual needs of residents and users of urban space. Thanks to the analyses, it is possible, for example, to introduce short-term parking zones in areas with high vehicle turnover, develop Park&Ride parking lots in places that are moderately integrated with the road network or limit parking in the most congested communication corridors. This knowledge can also be used to introduce dynamic parking fees, dependent on the actual level of space usage, which supports sustainable urban mobility and improves the quality of life of residents.
Source: Marta Borowska-Stefańska, Mariusz Lamprecht, Filip Turoboś, Szymon Wiśniewski: Patterns of temporal and spatial variability of parking in a large City in the context of road network configuration – The case of Łódź, Poland, Journal of Transport Geography, 2025, vol. 126, s.1-13, Article number: 104236. DOI:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104236 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0966692325001279
