A new way to organize parking: The key to a successful sustainable transport system for the future

Abstract

This paper reviews the failure of conventional transport policies to address the many problems caused by private car use in cities in high-income nations, and suggests that restructuring parking provision can address these problems. It discusses how increasing car use has not produced more trips per day, and increasing speed has not increased leisure time, because of congestion and increased travel distances. Transport planning that provides parking spaces for car owners at their homes, workplaces, shopping centres and recreational places has supported increased private car use. Not only does this make people car drivers but its effect also restructures cities so that shop, workplace, recreational and social contacts within neighbourhoods disappear, city landscapes become remodeled for cars, and public transport becomes unviable. Meanwhile, car-oriented city streets discourage walking. This paper suggests that these problems can be solved if strong incentives are provided for cars to be parked in garages that are only as accessible as public transport stops - at all origins and destinations.