2 ms·

Free public parking is a handout. I use it myself, I love it, I circle the block multiple times for a free space than pay for parking. But it is a handout. For

Free public parking is a handout. I use it myself, I love it, I circle the block multiple times for a free space than pay for parking. But it is a handout. Forcing private businesses to have parking, even if they make a business decision to not have it, is a tax on those businesses. And on all the businesses that would have been viable without that tax. I have no issue with paid public parking. It needs to exist. Or if we love free public services so much, we can talk about why public transport isn't free.

Spivak 2y ago
Does attaching a cost really make a meaningful difference? I'm paying for my trash pickup even though I'm not directly billed for it. The point if charging for public parking is more a rationing mechanism than a moral imperative. I think it's annoying to shoulder the cost on businesses which is why it's in practice being shouldered on the developers who get money from the state so large-scale I think it evens out. I think public transport should be free, keeping on the Columbus track I have no idea why COTA even bothers to charge. They instituted a monthly price-cap that's at most $62/mo and (or at most $31 plus 50% reduction on the per-fare cost if you're broke). And while not an insignificant amount of money to the riders it's bottom-of-the-bag chip dust to COTA itself. Oh no, more people might use the nearly empty busses, the horror.
- timerol 2y ago
  Yes, because people respond to incentives. A few dollars a month for parking is enough for people to junk their broken cars instead of leaving them on the street. A few dollars a day is enough to make people reconsider getting a second car. A few dollars an hour is enough to make people carpool and limit their stay. The point of charging for parking is not just to collect funds, it's to make sure parking is available.

2 ms·

Free public parking is a handout. I use it myself, I love it, I circle the block multiple times for a free space than pay for parking. But it is a handout. For

by triceratops 2y ago

Spivak 2y ago
Does attaching a cost really make a meaningful difference? I'm paying for my trash pickup even though I'm not directly billed for it. The point if charging for public parking is more a rationing mechanism than a moral imperative. I think it's annoying to shoulder the cost on businesses which is why it's in practice being shouldered on the developers who get money from the state so large-scale I think it evens out. I think public transport should be free, keeping on the Columbus track I have no idea why COTA even bothers to charge. They instituted a monthly price-cap that's at most $62/mo and (or at most $31 plus 50% reduction on the per-fare cost if you're broke). And while not an insignificant amount of money to the riders it's bottom-of-the-bag chip dust to COTA itself. Oh no, more people might use the nearly empty busses, the horror.
- timerol 2y ago
  Yes, because people respond to incentives. A few dollars a month for parking is enough for people to junk their broken cars instead of leaving them on the street. A few dollars a day is enough to make people reconsider getting a second car. A few dollars an hour is enough to make people carpool and limit their stay. The point of charging for parking is not just to collect funds, it's to make sure parking is available.