Evaluating the Behavioural and Operational Impacts of Valet and Non-Valet Parking Systems in Urban Commercial Spaces: A Mixed-Methods Study from Greater Noida

In Tier 2 Indian cities like Greater Noida, parking is becoming even more difficult as vehicle ownership has increased with commercial developments spreading without proper planning. This paper examines how valet and non-valet parking works in busy places of work, malls, markets, and offices using a mixture of field notes, a wide scale survey, and structured interviews. Among the 500 people that were surveyed, about half of them used valet parking and the rest used regular parking. The most preferred times are during nighttime and in malls where valet services are likely to be used by the respondents mainly because of the perceived safety and convenience. The most important factors are the price of parking, the number of attendants in place, the location of the parking area, and the time of waiting. A higher number of employees is associated with shorter waiting periods and greater customer satisfaction, but high turnover and profit margins can affect the quality of services. Personal attitudes, including trust, stress, convenience, and the need to have control, are significant, but they do not significantly predict parking choice as one would expect. Perceived control and age become the major predictors of valet selection. Finally, real-life concerns prevail over emotions. The mixed-method approach offers a clear, realistic view of the aspects that determine parking choices in growing cities.