DOWNTOWN PARKING
In an article in the April, 2005 Ann Arbor Observer, p. 28, the mayor is
quoted as saying that “There’s no way to get around the fact that only so
many cars will fit downtown.” Some people seem to think that all problems
can be solved by adding more spaces. They forget that downtown was
designed nearly 200 years ago, before there were any cars, as a village of
a few hundred people. Is it any wonder that it doesn’t work perfectly as
the center of a city of over 100,000? If downtown density increases are
supported by additional parking spaces, there must come a time when the
road system will be overwhelmed and gridlock will be common. Experts may
speculate, and reach different conclusions, but nobody really knows how many cars the system can handle. Wouldn’t it be better to go slow on encouraging new high density housing by building more parking garages?
quoted as saying that “There’s no way to get around the fact that only so
many cars will fit downtown.” Some people seem to think that all problems
can be solved by adding more spaces. They forget that downtown was
designed nearly 200 years ago, before there were any cars, as a village of
a few hundred people. Is it any wonder that it doesn’t work perfectly as
the center of a city of over 100,000? If downtown density increases are
supported by additional parking spaces, there must come a time when the
road system will be overwhelmed and gridlock will be common. Experts may
speculate, and reach different conclusions, but nobody really knows how many cars the system can handle. Wouldn’t it be better to go slow on encouraging new high density housing by building more parking garages?
posted by Clan Crawford, Jr. | 6:26 AM
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