Letter to Editor, LA Times: Yes, parking spaces are a sad waste of space that could be put to much better use. Planting space for trees and shrubs. Parks. Playgrounds. But until we get serious about effective and efficient (not to mention convenient and inexpensive) mass transit, we’re putting the cart before the horse…Allison
I’m just spitballing here, but what if all the effort to do away with parking and all the PR we see almost daily about parking minimums was spent getting serious about effective and efficient mass transit? I live 10 minutes at most from my office by car, but the best I can do on rapid transit is an hour, and sometimes longer.
Instead of trying for force people out of cars with the removal of parking or making driving too expensive (higher gasoline costs, etc) why not spend all this time and energy on making the time it takes me to get to my office say 15 or even 20 minutes on the bus or metro. If the bus was clean, safe, convenient, and let’s face it, on time, maybe I would use it rather than drive.
Forcing me into a dirty, unsafe bus that takes four times as long to get where I’m want to go is absurd.
Go Allison
JVH
Responses to Cart – Horse – Yep
1. Tony Jordan says: John, for one, there are many people who are working to make transit better, it’s generally THE SAME PEOPLE who are working to reduce parking mandates and other car infrastructure, for good reason. If we build for cars first then we all but guarantee that transit and other modes will be less convenient, slower, and more dangerous. It’s not an either or, it’s not a chicken and egg, it’s a systemic problem in need of a holistic solution. Keep spitballing though.
2. JVH says: Thanks, Tony — Can you please give me some specifics where “the same people” are working to make transit better, and what they are doing. As usual, I do appreciate your input Thanks JVH
3. Tony Jordan says: Well, just as one example… the Parking Reform Network is partnered with Transit4All in Chicago and other groups which engage in direct transit work. Perhaps you should attend a conference like Shared Use Mobility Summit, Association for Commuter Transportation TDM Forum, Walk/Bike/Places, the National American Planning Association Meeting, the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, YIMBYTown or countless other places where people meet to discuss their work on these issues.
4. JVH says: Tony, please help me here. I agree that there are countless agencies where people meet and talk. But can you give me any specific successes that these groups or individuals have had in making mass transportation “convenient, less expensive, effective and efficient”
