Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In

"Minimum parking requirements act like a fertility drug for cars," Donald Shoup wrote in his celebrated investigation of parking economics, The High Cost of Free Parking. The above video, from the city of Ottawa, does a good job explaining exactly why that is and the problems it causes.

Ottawa commissioned the animation to explain why its 1960s-era parking regulations need rethinking if the city is going to be a walkable place. But the same principles apply to cities everywhere.

Hat tip: City Obseratory

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

State Announces Nearly $300 Million in Grants for Safe Streets

Reflective paint and better lighting? Sure, that's great. A dozen new protected bikeways in six municipalities and at UC Santa Cruz? Yes, please.

March 10, 2025

Monday’s Headlines

Lots of small street improvements up and down the state...and a Ciclovia-style event returns in Irvine.

March 10, 2025

Op-Ed: Elon Musk Is Wrong About Amtrak

No, America should not privatize Amtrak "like China." But we could learn a thing or two from their rail success. (Spoiler: it's largely state-funded.)

March 10, 2025

Metro/Caltrans L.A. County Freeway Widening Accounted for Over 96 Percent of Recent Home Demolitions Statewide

Southern California has borne the brunt of harmful freeway widening, with L.A. County projects - where Caltrans partnered with Metro - resulting in mass demolition of homes and businesses

March 7, 2025

StreetSmart Ep.4: Fighting Climate Change Through More Attractive Transit and Reducing Driving

The StreetSmart podcast returns with an episode where we discuss how transit agencies can best fight global warming by encouraging more people to ride transit and by eliminating freeway widenings. This episode’s guest is Bryn Moncelsi, the Deputy Director of Climate Resolve.

March 7, 2025
See all posts