A new IBM study reveals that drivers in 20 international cities face a daily struggle in finding a parking space. Unfortunately, Montreal and Toronto are two of them.
The results of the first-ever Parking Index, which ranks the emotional and economic toll of parking in a cross-section of the world's busiest cities, indicate that people face many of the same parking frustrations, regardless of where they live.
In the past year, nearly six out of 10 drivers have abandoned their search for a space at least once, and more than a quarter have gotten into an argument with a fellow motorist over a parking space.
Nearly three out of four commuters surveyed in Shenzhen, Beijing, Nairobi, Singapore, Mexico City and Madrid reported not reaching their intended destination because they gave up looking for parking. The situation is less alarming but still worrying in Montreal (58 percent) and Toronto (57 percent).
In addition to the typical traffic congestion caused by daily commutes and gridlock from construction and accidents, reports have estimated that over 30 percent of traffic in a city is caused by drivers searching for a parking spot.
According to IBM, not only do inefficient parking systems result in congestion and increased carbon emissions, they also waste commuters’ time, lead to lost productivity and economic opportunities, and can lead to inefficient city services.
Here's a ranking of the worst cities based on the IBM Parking Index:
1. New Delhi (140)
2. Bangalore (138)
3. Beijing (124)
4. Moscow (122)
5. Shenzhen (122)
6. Paris (122)
7. Milan (117)
8. Nairobi (111)
9. Madrid (104)
10. Singapore (97)
11. Mexico City (97)
12. Stockholm (90)
13. Johannesburg (87)
14. London (86)
15. New York City (85)
16. Montreal (85)
17. Buenos Aires (80)
18. Toronto (77)
19. Los Angeles (61)
20. Chicago (51)
The results of the first-ever Parking Index, which ranks the emotional and economic toll of parking in a cross-section of the world's busiest cities, indicate that people face many of the same parking frustrations, regardless of where they live.
In the past year, nearly six out of 10 drivers have abandoned their search for a space at least once, and more than a quarter have gotten into an argument with a fellow motorist over a parking space.
Nearly three out of four commuters surveyed in Shenzhen, Beijing, Nairobi, Singapore, Mexico City and Madrid reported not reaching their intended destination because they gave up looking for parking. The situation is less alarming but still worrying in Montreal (58 percent) and Toronto (57 percent).
In addition to the typical traffic congestion caused by daily commutes and gridlock from construction and accidents, reports have estimated that over 30 percent of traffic in a city is caused by drivers searching for a parking spot.
According to IBM, not only do inefficient parking systems result in congestion and increased carbon emissions, they also waste commuters’ time, lead to lost productivity and economic opportunities, and can lead to inefficient city services.
Here's a ranking of the worst cities based on the IBM Parking Index:
1. New Delhi (140)
2. Bangalore (138)
3. Beijing (124)
4. Moscow (122)
5. Shenzhen (122)
6. Paris (122)
7. Milan (117)
8. Nairobi (111)
9. Madrid (104)
10. Singapore (97)
11. Mexico City (97)
12. Stockholm (90)
13. Johannesburg (87)
14. London (86)
15. New York City (85)
16. Montreal (85)
17. Buenos Aires (80)
18. Toronto (77)
19. Los Angeles (61)
20. Chicago (51)