The High Cost of Free Parking

It may sound like a boring topic, but the cost of parking is a huge deal for our cities, and it's not just about a few coins for a meter. In this episode, we get to speak with Donald Shoup on his seminal book The High Cost of Free Parking and dive into how our car-centric approach to urban planning creates hidden costs for everyone.

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The core argument is that free parking is never truly free. We might not pay at the curb, but we pay for it in other ways. When developers are forced to build a minimum number of parking spaces for every new building, those costs get passed on to us through higher rents, more expensive groceries, and other goods. Shoup proposes three simple, yet powerful, reforms to fix these issues:

1. Charge the right price for on-street parking: Set prices to ensure one or two spaces are always open on every block. This eliminates cruising and makes it easier to find a spot.

2. Use the revenue to improve the neighborhood: Instead of the money disappearing into a city's general fund, use the revenue generated from parking meters to fund local improvements like sidewalk repairs, street trees, and public transit.

3. End off-street parking minimums: Let the market decide how much parking is needed, rather than requiring it by law.

By implementing these changes, cities can make parking easier, reduce traffic and pollution, and create more walkable, vibrant, and affordable communities.