In the autumn, the rules for free parking for electric vehicles in Riga may change. The local government confirms that various reform options are currently being considered, and the Latvian Association of Electric Vehicle Owners urges not to abruptly cancel the existing benefits. This was reported by [TV3 News](https://tv3.lv/zinas/auto/rigas-dome-grib-mainit-elektroauto-bezmaksas-stavvietu-prieksrocibas-asociacija-aicina-nesteigties/). In the spring, information emerged in the public domain that the Riga City Council was preparing changes, but at that time, the authorities did not officially confirm these plans. Later, representatives of the Latvian Association of Electric Vehicle Owners met twice with the local government leadership to discuss possible changes. According to board member Janis Bekers, a significantly stricter reform option was presented at the second meeting. > "Essentially, to immediately cancel benefits in almost all parking zones, leaving only zones B and C for one year and allowing free parking for only one hour," he said. The association believes that such drastic changes could come as an unpleasant surprise for many electric vehicle owners. According to Bekers, many residents decided to purchase electric vehicles, relying in part on the existing parking benefits. Therefore, the organization suggests gradually reducing preferences according to a previously announced schedule, so that car owners have time to adapt to the new conditions. Chairwoman of the Riga City Council's Committee on Urban Environment and Mobility Marta Kotello confirmed that a final decision has not yet been made. She stated that a broader plan for changes is currently being developed, which may include different parking payment models. Among the options being considered is a differentiated parking fee depending on whether the vehicle owner is registered in Riga. The future of Vecmīlgrāvis is also being discussed separately, where benefits for electric vehicles are particularly noticeable due to the large number of such cars. The association believes that the historic center should indeed become more pedestrian-friendly, but the number of cars should be reduced gradually. The local government reminds that a special study is currently being conducted regarding the development of Vecmīlgrāvis. Its goal is to determine how to make the historic center more convenient for pedestrians while preserving its cultural heritage. Chairman of the City Development Committee Edgars Bergholcs believes that the current system requires revision. According to him, free parking for an entire day is rare in European cities, and parking spaces should primarily be used for short-term parking. Currently, there are about 14,000 electric vehicles registered in Latvia, and their number continues to grow rapidly. If the Riga City Council decides to significantly reduce benefits, electric vehicle owners will have to adapt to the new rules. The association has already stated that they do not plan to challenge possible changes in court.