Why parking your car is more environmentally destructive than driving it
Steven Landsburg has a great, short piece in Slate entitled Why parking your car is more environmentally destructive than driving it. He discusses something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently - the various costs to society of poor parking management practices, and the potential benefits to be derived from improving those practices. For instance, what is the difference in terms of revenue generation, job creation, and quality of life improvements between devoting approximately 350 square feet of land to provide one parking space versus devoting that land to retail space, office space, housing space, or park space? I’ve not done the math, but I’m guessing Steve Landsburg will be doing it in his new book, and I’m guessing that the parking use will come out dead last! Have you seen any analysis of this type? If so, please post a link in the comments.