Share:
I explained this already. It took me 1,025 words to detail how cities make up parking quotas from junk science. Maximum parking tallies become minimum parking requirements become landscapes flooded with free parking, which induces more driving, which leads to higher tallies of maximum parking. Repeat.
Cascadian artist Don Baker has just explained it in 71 seconds. Behold: Driving in Circles.
Share:
Talk to the Author
Alan Durning, executive director, founded Northwest Environment Watch in 1993, which became Sightline Institute in 2006. Alan’s current topics of focus include housing affordability and democracy reform.
Your gift directly fuels the smart, independent research that removes barriers to abundant housing, accelerates the clean energy transition, and strengthens democracy across Cascadia. We are a nonpartisan think tank providing the rigorous policy analysis and sophisticated arguments needed to deliver real-world change for our communities.
Help Sightline reach our $90,000 goal before Dec. 2
Loading donation form...
Sightline Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank providing leading original analysis of democracy, energy, and housing policy in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, British Columbia, and beyond.
Comments are closed.
Legalizing more affordable, welcoming, sustainable communities by allowing more homes, in all shapes and sizes, alongside less car-centric urban design.
Learn MoreWhy apartments may be the most powerful domestic climate move of the Trump years.
Hear directly from our experts. Sign up for the Housing + Cities newsletter.
SubscribeListen to Sightline articles by subscribing to our feed on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.
Find our FeedsSightline Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and does not support, endorse, or oppose any candidate or political party.
Make a donation to Sightline today.
Find the author's contact information on our staff page to reach out to them, or send a message to editor@sightline.org.
I have not run into a massive oversupply of parting spaces. Where are they anyway. Definitely not on Capital Hill or near the Pike Place market.
this could be because,like roadways, supply generates demand
Check out Fort Collins. No parking minimums for commercial development *citywide*, and either a very low or no residential requirements in the “TOD” zone (basically anything within a few blocks of Old Town, CSU, or S. College). As a resident, the most prevalent comment I have heard is that oftentimes the only open space at the NE Walmart (CO-14 and Lemay) is at the edge of the lot.
Interesting example, Zmapper. Thanks.
They’re all in Bellevue
Do check out the other Digital Stories by Don Baker (convenient link in the article above) — I LOVE this guy.
Mr. Durning et al,
I serve on the senior affairs commission for Redwood City CA. Our downtown has become enormously popular for evening concerts, movies, salsa festivals and such and we’ve been told that seniors are reluctant to show up because parking’s extremely limited. A solution under serious consideration is to offer valet parking. Dunno whether users would be carded, to show proof of age — not likely. I’d appreciate referrals to any research or examples of similar proposals/solutions. (btw I saw you posted on Streetsblog) — thanks
Thanks for your comment. I’m not aware of any programs like that. Sorry. I would encourage you to post your question on the group “Shoupistas” on Facebook.