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Maybe you don't know it but cities are designed. There are urban planners who decide who to organise an area, public governements decide what land is open to wh

Maybe you don't know it but cities are designed. There are urban planners who decide who to organise an area, public governements decide what land is open to what kind of buildings, etc. So decisions are taken about how to organise cities, and it's been this way for centuries. See how Haussmann transformed Paris in the 19th century for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haussmann%27s_renovation_of_Paris https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haussmann%27s_renovation_of_Pa...

WildUtah 11y ago
More topically, parking is built because city planners and local and state laws require it. It isn't optional, developers can't choose to organically build less over time, it isn't a matter of choice, and it won't acquiesce into anything else. And the predominance of parking everywhere in America didn't just happen. It was mandated by law. First world cities with low parking requirements have much less than 5% as much parking as American cities do. Because that is what people will build voluntarily and pay for.
- mc32 11y ago
  By organically I meant people petition, change laws pass ordinances etc at their pace. Speaking of low parking slot cities, ever enjoy having sidewalks and pavement taken up by parked cars. Slots or not, people park their cars.
  - WildUtah 11y ago
    Tokyo requires that car owners prove they have a reserved parking stall before allowing them to register a vehicle. That takes care of sidewalk parking. But the easiest way to eliminate sidewalk parking is to install meters on the street spaces. Then the local authorities will promptly tow sidewalk parkers for meter evasion. The problem only crops up where parking is mandated and free.
    - mc32 11y ago
      Leys see how that works out on counties with corruption endemic at low levels of enforcement.
      - WildUtah 11y ago
        Mexico City had no parking meters six years ago and a serious sidewalk parking problem. As the new meters go into neighborhoods, the local parking cops (on bicycles with a trailer full of Denver boots) detain illegal parkers. It works absolutely great. The neighborhood has new cash to spend on improvements and there's legal space to park in for a price.
- martinpw 11y ago
  Small anecdote on the parking requirement - in the LA suburb I live in one of the local coffee shops has a large 'seating' area which is nearly devoid of actual seating. Asking the staff why they didn't install more chairs and tables, they said they were not allowed to have more tables than parking spaces, and their location only had a few parking spaces. So when I walk there I have no place to sit because - well, why would anyone not drive and park to get their latte fix?

WildUtah 11y ago

More topically, parking is built because city planners and local and state laws require it. It isn't optional, developers can't choose to organically build less over time, it isn't a matter of choice, and it won't acquiesce into anything else. And the predominance of parking everywhere in America didn't just happen. It was mandated by law. First world cities with low parking requirements have much less than 5% as much parking as American cities do. Because that is what people will build voluntarily and pay for.

mc32 11y ago
By organically I meant people petition, change laws pass ordinances etc at their pace. Speaking of low parking slot cities, ever enjoy having sidewalks and pavement taken up by parked cars. Slots or not, people park their cars.
- WildUtah 11y ago
  Tokyo requires that car owners prove they have a reserved parking stall before allowing them to register a vehicle. That takes care of sidewalk parking. But the easiest way to eliminate sidewalk parking is to install meters on the street spaces. Then the local authorities will promptly tow sidewalk parkers for meter evasion. The problem only crops up where parking is mandated and free.
  - mc32 11y ago
    Leys see how that works out on counties with corruption endemic at low levels of enforcement.
    - WildUtah 11y ago
      Mexico City had no parking meters six years ago and a serious sidewalk parking problem. As the new meters go into neighborhoods, the local parking cops (on bicycles with a trailer full of Denver boots) detain illegal parkers. It works absolutely great. The neighborhood has new cash to spend on improvements and there's legal space to park in for a price.
martinpw 11y ago
Small anecdote on the parking requirement - in the LA suburb I live in one of the local coffee shops has a large 'seating' area which is nearly devoid of actual seating. Asking the staff why they didn't install more chairs and tables, they said they were not allowed to have more tables than parking spaces, and their location only had a few parking spaces. So when I walk there I have no place to sit because - well, why would anyone not drive and park to get their latte fix?