How Perceptions Shape Parking Decisions: A Comparison of Paid and Free Parking Permit Holders
Start Date
April 2026
Location
3rd floor - Library
Abstract
Purpose: In Fall 2025, Xavier University implemented a revised parking policy that transitioned from free to paid parking, with free options relocated to remote lots. This study examined perceptions, beliefs, and values influencing the selection of paid versus free parking permits.
Methods: Participants completed a Qualtrics survey assessing the importance of factors influencing parking permit decisions, including availability, convenience (proximity), cost, and social influence. Differences between paid and free permit holders were examined using chi‑square tests and independent t‑tests in IBM SPSS.
Results: Participants included 48 university employees (70% faculty, 30% staff). Demographic characteristics (age, gender, race, and employment status) did not differ between paid and free parking groups. Parking availability was rated as very important by similar proportions of paid and free permit holders (33.3% vs. 29.2%; p = 0.38). Convenience was rated as very important more frequently by paid compared with free parking holders (58.3% vs. 20.8%; p = 0.06). Cost was significantly less important among paid compared with free parking holders (33.3% vs. 79.2% very important; p = 0.002). Social perceptions also differed between groups. Paid permit holders estimated a lower proportion of coworkers using free or peripheral parking compared with free parking holders (30.6% vs. 44.7%; p = 0.03) and reported lower likelihood of using peripheral parking if more colleagues did so (41.2% very unlikely vs. 30.0% very likely; p = 0.002).
Conclusion: Cost, convenience, availability, and social influence all contribute to parking permit decision‑making, with cost emerging as the most influential factor. Paid permit holders prioritized convenience and perceived free parking as less commonly used.
How Perceptions Shape Parking Decisions: A Comparison of Paid and Free Parking Permit Holders
3rd floor - Library
Purpose: In Fall 2025, Xavier University implemented a revised parking policy that transitioned from free to paid parking, with free options relocated to remote lots. This study examined perceptions, beliefs, and values influencing the selection of paid versus free parking permits.
Methods: Participants completed a Qualtrics survey assessing the importance of factors influencing parking permit decisions, including availability, convenience (proximity), cost, and social influence. Differences between paid and free permit holders were examined using chi‑square tests and independent t‑tests in IBM SPSS.
Results: Participants included 48 university employees (70% faculty, 30% staff). Demographic characteristics (age, gender, race, and employment status) did not differ between paid and free parking groups. Parking availability was rated as very important by similar proportions of paid and free permit holders (33.3% vs. 29.2%; p = 0.38). Convenience was rated as very important more frequently by paid compared with free parking holders (58.3% vs. 20.8%; p = 0.06). Cost was significantly less important among paid compared with free parking holders (33.3% vs. 79.2% very important; p = 0.002). Social perceptions also differed between groups. Paid permit holders estimated a lower proportion of coworkers using free or peripheral parking compared with free parking holders (30.6% vs. 44.7%; p = 0.03) and reported lower likelihood of using peripheral parking if more colleagues did so (41.2% very unlikely vs. 30.0% very likely; p = 0.002).
Conclusion: Cost, convenience, availability, and social influence all contribute to parking permit decision‑making, with cost emerging as the most influential factor. Paid permit holders prioritized convenience and perceived free parking as less commonly used.
