Uncovering divergences in parking payment behavior

• Detailed analysis of customer payment behavior for curbside parking to enhance management and operations. • Findings revealed significant variation in the amount parking customers paid relative to their due fees. • High turnover rates and weekend parking were positively associated with fee discrepancies, suggesting a higher frequency of payment inconsistencies. • Policy adjustments recommended including stricter monitoring or revised pricing structures during high-turnover periods and weekends. • Scenario analysis indicated that extending parking hours and redistributing demand could reduce unpaid parking. Customer payment behavior for curbside parking in Brisbane’s central business district (CBD) was analyzed to identify patterns that could enhance management and operations. Data from three parking locations, collected over one week, included spatiotemporal attributes of parking, occupancy, fines, and customer behavior. Among 2,508 parking transactions, 647 (25.8%) were unpaid, while 1,861 (74.2%) were paid. The analysis employed descriptive statistics, exploratory analysis, and a random-parameters linear regression model. The findings revealed significant variation in the amount customers paid relative to their due parking fees. Specifically, parking duration, parking start hour, and proximity to clearway periods exhibited a negative correlation with the difference between the amount paid and the due parking fee, indicating that longer stays and parking closer to clearway times resulted in more accurate payments. In contrast, high turnover rates and weekend parking were positively associated with fee discrepancies, suggesting a higher frequency of payment inconsistencies. To address these issues, policy adjustments could include stricter monitoring or revised pricing structures during high-turnover periods and weekends to minimize discrepancies and enhance customer compliance. Scenario analysis indicated that extending parking hours and redistributing demand could reduce unpaid parking and improve congestion management in the CBD. Additionally, discrepancies were found to be slightly lower when using mobile payments compared to parking meters. A better understanding of the key variables identified in this study can support improvements in enforcement strategies and educational campaigns by highlighting factors associated with illegal parking behavior.