Editor,
I just read Mr. Lee’s opinion piece “The need for more parking.” He well articulates various problems: business impact, foot traffic, sales and profits. Unfortunately, his solution is actually the cause of these ills. We have too much parking, and too much transit is car oriented.
The solution is to transport more people more efficiently. Cars are the least efficient means of transportation, and our near exclusive focus on them diminishes those modes that actually increase access to businesses. Studies nearly uniformly support this, research supports this, actual real life infrastructure supports this.
Business/downtown areas that prioritize mass transit, cycling transit and pedestrian transit uniformly are vibrant and business friendly. I can more easily shop for a meal, buy my groceries, stop by my hardware store, etc. without vast seas of parking lots and streets space taken for car parking.
Are there exceptions? Sure. It’s hard to take a bookcase home on the bus or bike. But, if most trips are not made by car, that makes the few that much easier. There will be parking available, if most folks are not driving and circling the block trying to snag a spot.
Do you want stronger businesses and easier access to parking? Then convert more street parking to bus, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. The more folks use these modes, the more the remaining parking will be available to those who really need to drive.
Giuliano Carlini
Belmont
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(2) comments
Thanks for your letter, Giuliano, highlighting your reasons for less parking. However, not everyone can patronize supposedly “efficient” transportation due to time constraints and daily routines (convenience). Why patronize downtown where parking is difficult to find and downtown is increasingly nickel and diming folks that drive (inconvenient and time inefficient)? Why not patronize a mall where parking is readily available and free (convenient and time efficient)? If downtown insists on less parking, don’t be surprised if there are fewer patrons due to inconvenience.
A car is the most efficient way to get from point A to point B on time, especially when carrying something. Autonomous driving services like Venmo and Uber don't need parking because they're constantly moving.
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