THE EFFECTS OF PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN PARKING SERVICES ON DRIVERS’ PARKING PREFERENCES AND BEHAVIOURS

Abstract

Parking services are one of the most important factors that provide inner city transportation without any malfunction. The supply of parking services undertaken by local authorities in the World and also in Turkey is becoming increasingly difficult because of the increase in population and number of vehicles. Local authorities are facing various economic and organizational problems in providing the parking services. Therefore, these authorities are in a search for alternative solutions to the supply of parking services. Within the scope of this study, first of all, the reasons which oblige the local authorities for collaboration with private sector when supplying the parking services are examined and different supplying methods from various countries are exemplified. Then, the legal situation of parking services in Istanbul is explained briefly and the ISPARK model that used in Istanbul as an Economic Enterprise of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is also analyzed as an alternative parking services model. Lastly, the results of the questionnaire which we tried to identify the effects of private sector participation in parking services on drivers’ parking preferences and behaviours in Istanbul are examined.