A “multi-pronged approach” may help ease the parking shortage in Zhengzhou’s residential communities, with the construction of multi‑storey parking garages set to become the main battleground.

In Greentown Zhengzhou, as living standards continue to rise, the number of motor vehicles has increased significantly. Whether in older residential neighborhoods or newly built communities, most areas face, to varying degrees, a shortage of parking spaces and difficulties in finding parking. So, how exactly should the longstanding issue of parking difficulties in residential communities be resolved?

Expanding parking capacity has effectively alleviated the parking shortage.

It is reported that, in accordance with the “Technical Regulations for Urban and Rural Planning Management of Zhengzhou City (Trial)” issued and implemented by the Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Urban and Rural Planning in August 2013, residential buildings shall provide parking spaces for motor vehicles at a ratio of no less than one space per household; for apartment types with a floor area of 130 square meters or more, , parking spaces shall be provided at a standard of no fewer than two spaces per household, while public rental housing shall be allocated at a rate of 0.5 space per household.

The regulation further stipulates that underground space should be fully utilized, and on‑street parking of motor vehicles shall be strictly restricted; the proportion of on‑street parking spaces to the total number of parking spaces should not exceed 10%. Parking facilities provided as part of the commercial amenities in residential areas shall be separately designated and used independently.

On the morning of June 20, the reporter visited Hanlin Shijia residential community, located near Taoyuan Road. According to Manager Yang of the Property Management Department, the residential complex was handed over in 2009 and comprises two buildings with a total of 784 households. The community’s ground-level parking plan provides 52 spaces, with an additional 106 underground, but with a large number of private vehicles and insufficient parking, it simply cannot meet residents’ needs. To this end, they specially renovated the underground parking garage and added multi‑level parking, creating more than 100 additional spaces and effectively easing parking congestion.

Subsequently, the reporter observed in the community’s underground multi-level parking garage that several private cars were parked on both levels, with a worker on duty nearby. He said that parking here is very convenient, with all operations handled by the residents themselves, and that they have all received prior training.

Addressing residents’ parking difficulties, Manager Yang told reporters that the next step will be to develop the vacant lot on both sides of the entrance into a parking area for everyone’s use. At present, staff from the Erqi District Parking Management Center have completed their on-site investigation, and the matter is currently being actively coordinated further.

Like the Hanlin Shijia residential community, during our on-site investigation, we found that in Jinshui District, Erqi District, and Huiji District, several neighborhoods are actively exploring ways to increase parking capacity and, with residents’ consent, plan to expand parking spaces. For example, some roads near residential communities have implemented staggered parking and shared parking spaces. By developing legal parking facilities on vacant lots and implementing a series of other measures, parking congestion has been effectively alleviated.

Unlock regional resources to revitalize public assets.

Tap into regional resources and revitalize existing public assets. By implementing a range of measures—taking into account overall traffic volume, parking availability, and the parking needs of nearby residential communities—we can effectively alleviate parking congestion.

In the Fuhua Jiayuan residential community on Xingyun Road in Erqi District, a public parking lot is located just a short distance away, offering 260 parking spaces for residents and visitors.

“Parking here is very convenient and free, but security isn’t guaranteed.” “Mr. Song, the car owner, said.” On June 24, at the intersection of Jinhe Road and Kaiyuan Road in Huiji District, a reporter observed a free parking lot set up by the Xincheng Subdistrict Office. Residents from nearby communities without parking spaces are welcome to park here; however, a “P”‑shaped sign posted nearby kindly reminds drivers that the facility provides parking spaces but assumes no responsibility for vehicle security.

Near the intersection of Jingba Road and Weiyi Road in Jinshui District, there are 60 time-limited, free parking spaces available on both sides of Jingba Road. A responsible official from the Parking Management Center of the Zhengzhou Municipal Urban Administration stated that the nighttime time‑limited parking spaces on Jingba Road are part of a pilot program aimed at addressing the difficulty local residents face in finding overnight parking, and have been well received by many residents.

Plan the vehicular routes within the residential community. During field visits, reporters found that in many residential communities in Zhengzhou, access is restricted to a single entrance and exit, forcing vehicles to circulate in one direction throughout the complex to ensure orderly and smooth traffic flow.

In 2011, the Zhengzhou Municipal Government mandated that more than 70% of government agencies and over 30% of residential communities open their parking facilities to the public, with government compound parking lots taking the lead in making their spaces accessible to outsiders.

It is reported that, to facilitate citizens’ travel and ensure orderly parking, the Zhengzhou Municipal Urban Management Bureau announced on November 26 last year the designation of 5,878 free parking spaces located outside the city’s Fourth Ring Road.

According to a property management company manager in Zhengzhou with over ten years of experience, while the “difficulty of finding parking” is a global challenge, each residential community faces its own unique circumstances. Therefore, when addressing this issue, it is essential to analyze each case individually and adopt tailored solutions. Neighborhood committees, owners’ committees, and property management companies should adapt their approaches to local conditions, working diligently to resolve residents’ concerns and deliver tangible results.

Building multi‑storey parking garages will become the “main battleground.”

On the afternoon of June 23, in the Xihu Chun Tian residential community. To prevent vehicles from parking on the roadside, many sections of the community’s internal roads are equipped with multiple metal bollards to deter illegal parking. Residents say that although this approach is somewhat problematic, it has nonetheless been somewhat effective. Previously, vehicles were parked on both sides, making it difficult to drive through and increasing the risk of minor collisions; a multi‑level parking garage would be ideal, as it could accommodate many more cars.

“If parking spaces in the community are in short supply, we recommend building a multi‑level parking structure. This approach minimizes ground‑level space usage while providing ample parking for many vehicles.” “During several consecutive days of field visits, many residents offered the following suggestions and recommendations.”

An official from the Zhengzhou Municipal Commission of Urban and Rural Construction stated that, given Zhengzhou’s current vehicle ownership and the ratio of parking spaces to vehicles, multi‑storey parking garages are undoubtedly a highly effective solution to the city’s parking shortage and indeed represent an emerging trend.

In this regard, a veteran in the domestic parking industry analyzes that building multi‑storey parking garages will soon become the “mainstay” for many residential communities.

However, it is worth noting that among the various solutions, constructing a multi‑storey parking garage appears to be a viable option, but multi‑storey parking garages… Three points are under construction, while seven points are in maintenance; the subsequent high maintenance costs deter some developers, which is also one of the main reasons.

The National Development and Reform Commission and other departments have issued the “Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Urban Parking Infrastructure Development,” encouraging the construction of intensive parking facilities such as multi‑storey parking garages, underground parking lots, and mechanical automated parking systems. Encourage the participation of social capital, broadly attract investment from various sources to develop urban parking facilities, and vigorously promote the PPP model. Beijing, Zhengzhou, Hangzhou, and other cities have successively introduced policies to encourage the development of multi‑storey parking garages.

Public data show that in 2017, 301 cities nationwide added new mechanical parking garages, marking the highest number of cities ever recorded in a single year; among them, 57 cities were counted for the first time. To date, the total number of cities nationwide equipped with mechanical parking garages has reached approximately 600, with penetration rates in first-, second-, and third-tier cities approaching 100%.

Nighttime time-limited free parking may be rolled out nationwide.

On the morning of June 24, Tian Meng, director of the Zhengzhou Parking Lot Management Center, told a reporter from Dahe Daily that Jinshui District has launched a pilot program offering free nighttime parking spaces, which has already yielded noticeable results. The city plans to roll out additional pilot projects and may eventually extend the initiative citywide. A major challenge in residential parking is the severe shortage of parking spaces—this is the root of the problem. First, land is limited and highly constrained, and road space sees little use during the day. Therefore, implementing time‑limited free parking at night is a promising measure. Second, at present, the construction of a parking lot by the relevant authorities requires substantial funding and is relatively difficult to implement.

In addition, the Parking Management Center is piloting the development of parking facilities at shopping malls and in certain residential areas, offering monthly nighttime parking packages that are open to residents of nearby communities. For example, vehicles would be prohibited from parking during the day, or if parked, they’d be charged at daytime rates, while nighttime rates would apply on a monthly‑pass basis. This approach ensures that shopping malls can generate revenue while meeting residents’ parking needs; pilot programs are currently underway in every district.

Tian Meng urges residents that when heading to high‑traffic areas such as hospitals, schools, and shopping malls—places with heavy parking demand during the day—it is advisable to use public transportation.

“This month, inspections are being conducted at parking facilities across all districts of Zhengzhou to assess the current stage of implementation.” An official from the Zhengzhou Municipal Urban–Rural Construction Commission stated that they are responsible for overall coordination, while the actual construction of parking facilities is overseen by the relevant construction authorities in each district and management committee. During construction, multi‑storey parking structures should be tailored to local conditions and built in accordance with site-specific circumstances.

A relevant official from the Zhengzhou Municipal Traffic Police Detachment reminds residents that vehicle owners should avoid parking their cars on the roadside, as this not only causes traffic congestion but may also result in a parking ticket issued by traffic police. Park your vehicle in a designated parking lot to avoid unnecessary property damage.