The existing parking system assumes that drivers can pay the right price for parking, but we find the opposite in a field study (N=567). Drivers either overpay or underpay for parking at on-street parking meters 98% of the time, for 20–30 minutes on average. Such misalignment between parking payments and presumed price can mask the price signal and reduce its power to influence drivers' behavior and downstream environmental consequences. These findings provide evidence for widespread parking payment inaccuracy and suggest a way forward for change. This research offers important insights for transportation and planning professionals on the future of parking.
How to Cite
Li, Meng, Shalini Mahanthege, and Carolyn McAndrews. Irrationality in Metered Parking Payment Compliance, MPC-22-481. North Dakota State University - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Fargo: Mountain-Plains Consortium, 2022.
Final Report 
The existing parking system assumes that drivers can pay the right price for parking, but we find the opposite in a field study (N=567). Drivers either overpay or underpay for parking at on-street parking meters 98% of the time, for 20–30 minutes on average. Such misalignment between parking payments and presumed price can mask the price signal and reduce its power to influence drivers' behavior and downstream environmental consequences. These findings provide evidence for widespread parking payment inaccuracy and suggest a way forward for change. This research offers important insights for transportation and planning professionals on the future of parking.