PARKING AND URBAN DYNAMICS

IN MOST MICROCOSMIC DECISIONS REGARDING TRANSPORTATION THE AUTOMOBILE IS HEAVILY FAVORED. THERE ARE TWO ADVANTAGES OFFERED BY AUTO THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN OTHER ALTERNATIVES: INDEPENDENCE AND CONVENIENCE. WITHIN THE PRESENT FRAMEWORK OF VALUES IT IS PREDETERMINED THAT CIRCUMSTANCES OFFERING REALIZATION OF THESE ADVANTAGES WILL BE CHOSEN BY THOSE PORTIONS OF THE POPULATION ABLE TO DO SO. IT THEREFORE MUST BE ACCEPTED BY PLANNERS THAT WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSIBILITY IS ONE OF THE FACTORS OF VIABILITY. AVAILABILITY INCLUDES A WIDE RANGE OF FACTORS BEYOND THE SIMPLE NUMBERS OF PARKING SPACES. SOME OF THE DETERMINING FACTORS ARE: (1) PARKING RATES; (2) AMENITIES, SUCH AS WEATHER PROTECTION FOR CAR AND PERSON; (3) SAFETY HAZARDS PRESENTED BY PARKING NEAR FAST MOVING TRAFFIC; AND (1) SECURITY (DARK STREETS IN DOWNTOWN AREAS ARE FREQUENTLY CONSIDERED AS OFFERING NO AVAILABLE PARKING). FAILURE OF PLANNERS TO PROVIDE AVAILABLE PARKING IN A WAY WHICH GUIDES DEVELOPMENT OF THE URBAN FORM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE CHARACTERISTICS ESTABLISHED FOR THE OPTIMAL PLAN WILL HAVE A FAR-REACHING DETRIMENTAL IMPACT. SOME RESULTS OF FAILING TO PROVIDE AVAILABILITY TO MEET THE DEMAND INCLUDE: (1) REDISTRIBUTION OF SHOPPING WILL OCCUR AT THOSE LOCATIONS WHICH DO PROVIDE PARKING; (2) ARTIFICIALLY HIGH TRANSPORTATION COSTS RESULTING FROM DECREASED AVAILABILITY; (3) EXTENSION OF COMMUTATION TIMES; (1) PUBLIC INCONVENIENCE; AND (5) WORSENING TRAFFIC CONGESTION. IT IS THE ROLE OF LOCAL PLANNERS AND POLICY MAKERS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND THE COSTS INVOLVED IN ACHIEVING EACH OPTION. TO THE DEGREE THAT PARKING AVAILABILITY WILL AFFECT PROGRESS TOWARD THE DESIRED GOALS, IT SHOULD BE SO DIRECTED. /UMTA/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • PROJ NO URT-11
• Corporate Authors:

  Consortium of Universities

  Urban Transportation Center, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20036
• Authors:
  • Viencent, B W
• Publication Date: 1970

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Parking; Parking demand; Studies; Urban areas
• Old TRIS Terms: Parking studies
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00226468
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Urban Mass Transportation Administration
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 7 1972 12:00AM