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Such vast, paved, surface-level parking lots are a distinctively American thing. In Europe, for example, you’re much more likely to find covered, multi-level p
by Reason077 6y ago
Such vast, paved, surface-level parking lots are a distinctively American thing.
In Europe, for example, you’re much more likely to find covered, multi-level parking structures once a parking lot exceeds a given size.
- chrisrogers 6y agoIf Europe had the space that exists in and around Austin, they would do the same thing. It's simply far less expensive to build surface lots.
- ovi256 6y agoYes, this is commonly done in areas where land is cheap, I'm thinking of rural train station parking lots, regional and small airport parking lots.
- namdnay 6y agoExactly. It’s not like you see massive flat lots in Manhattan
- sampo 6y agoThere is this fairly efficient 10-level parking garage in Philadelphia, Arch Street. It is essentially two 10-floor towers connected at the top. They saved room by making driveways one-way. So you enter, you have to drive 10 floors up, drive across the roof, and then drive 10 floors down to the exit. You can park wherever along the way, but you always end up driving all the way up and down.
- namrog84 6y agoThat sounds terrible. I feel like I'd get nausea or dizzy. Thats essentially driving in a circle 20 times. Itd be okay if there were 2 mid level cross connections
- ChrisIsTaken 6y agoThe Sydney Opera House is like this too, it's a 12 story double helix excavated from sandstone. I'm sure it was fascinating to design, but it's an absolute nightmare to park in.
- ChrisIsTaken 6y agoMultilevel parking is about $10-15k per space. An asphalt lot is $1.5k. You also don't pay land tax and stormwater drainage levies on an undeveloped parking lot.
- ant6n 6y agoIn Europe, people are more likely to engage in active transportation. You´ll find more public transit, cycling and even walking. Public transit is just a normal way for anybody to get around, not a mobility fallback for poor people.
- SanderNL 6y agoThat is changing though. I've not seen the inside of a train for years and I'm happy with that TBH.
- danielscrubs 6y ago”A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It's where the rich use public transportation.” Gustavo Petro
- nixass 6y agoPersonal anecdote is not "change"
- the8472 6y agoSome parking places in Europe are also covered in gravel or permeable pavement and have trees between rows rather than being made of tarmac.