Free parking for Electric Vehicles in Sligo

Andy From Sligo

I was reading on Waterford Council website that all council owned parking in the area is free of charge to Electric Vehicles, and Hybrid's (if they are charging) and i thought what a great idea/incentive so was going to ask if Sligo County council would consider doing it as well

- but what department to contact would it be does anyone know - roads department would it be anyone know?

https://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/departments/roads-parking/parking.htm

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Free parking for electric vehicles

As a promotion to encourage the use of electric vehicles, Waterford City and County Council introduced free parking for electric vehicles. Electric vehicles (excluding hybrids) can park free of charge without displaying a parking ticket in any Council operated parking space in Waterford, Dungarvan and Tramore in compliance with parking time limits in the area. Electric and Hybrid vehicles can park free of charge while charging at any charging point. All vehicles must be moved once the charge is complete.

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Furze99

Why is that a good idea? Why shouldn't EV owners pay for clogging up towns and cities like every other driver. They take up the same space.

Andy From Sligo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394233#Comment_119394233

because even so they are taking up the same space they are not polluting the air in the towns and cities directly around pedestrians in the towns and cities like most other forms of transport - plus , just as another incentive / sweetner to help converting more people to drive cleaner quieter cars

thebiglad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394586#Comment_119394586

And probably spend longer at the charger as its free meaning the next user cannot get access...

Barangutan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394233#Comment_119394233

This, 100%.

What the council need to be doing is incentivizing and encouraging other modes of active travel in the town. Bus, bicycle, walking etc. If anything the cost of short-term parking should be increased for all cars within the town.

muffler

I can't really see it having any bearing when it comes to making a decision about buying an EV.

However I'm sure EV owners would welcome the move.

miamee

I asked this back in May, sent an email to Sligo Co Co (info@ emai address) as I genuinely was unusure if we should be paying or not. Wer had always paid up to that point but I just wondered as other places are free to park and charge. Someone from the Finance dept (😂) wrote back to tell me yes you must always pay to park when using a charging bay.

Andy From Sligo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119395160#Comment_119395160

ah right thanks for that, it sounds like i will be wasting my time contacting them then just to get the same kind of answer. sounds good what waterford are doing though

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394586#Comment_119394586

Well we won't go down the pollution comparisons as that gets complicated. But the idea of pay parking is 1) revenue for local authority 2) reduce congestion 3) encourage use of walking, cycling, public transport 4) rotate parking spaces so others can use them.

On all above grounds, EVs are just as liable for parking charges as conventional vehicles.

Andy From Sligo

if a cyclist gets incentives / sweeteners of bicycle lanes because they are coming into town and not polluting it then in the same way maybe a EV could get some incentives of bringing in clean transport to towns by free parking and be able to drive in bus lanes etc -