Why does parking policy need reforming?

Car parking costs big bucks to build and takes up lots of space! For 70+ years nearly every city in the USA has required an arbitrary amount of parking to be built with every new building or business.

Because parking is never “free” and it takes up so much space, the result has been less affordable housing, more sprawl, and car dependency.

It’s bad for the climate, our health, and our cities.

What is parking reform?

1) Repeal costly parking mandates so people aren’t forced to pay for parking if they don’t drive a car.
2) Manage on-street parking by setting the lowest price that leaves a space open on every block (this prevents spillover from no.1)
3) Spend the revenue to reduce car dependency — better sidewalks, subsidies for low income workers, bike lanes, etc.

There are other things but those are the big three!

How can you help fix the problem?

Donald Shoup has been making the academic case for parking reform for 40 years, but only recently has there been a concerted organizing effort to spread and enact these ideas.

The Parking Reform Network is an (inter)national organization focused on educating the public about this issue and working with advocates and partners to accelerate parking reform. PRN is the only organization solely focused on this issue.

Join PRN! https://parkingreform.org/join

One more thing:

Maybe you’re not a joiner, that’s ok! But if you think this is an issue that is worth fighting to fix, we can still use your support!

We’re an all volunteer organization which has already done a lot with a little. We want to do a lot more! We have a fundraising drive underway, you can donate here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/parking-reform-network/help-the-parking-reform-network-raise-30-000-by-november-15th

And, of course, spread the word!

I support all the goals described and applaud this work. I also think that from an equity and bottom-up perspectives, there are some other issues around parking policy/practices that are important, perhaps even have higher imminent urgency and potential for the poorest and most marginalized, and for radical housing possibilities.