Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In

Where is the most cringeworthy case of excess car storage next to a transit station? Streetsblog's annual Parking Madness tournament is in search of an answer.

A suburban St. Louis rail station is already through to the next round, and the polls are still open in yesterday's match pitting greater Boston again Toronto. The first round action continues today, as the downtown parking lots by a multi-modal transit hub in the Inland Empire take on a suburban-style shopping center right next to a Chicago train station.

Don't forget to vote for the worst.

San Bernardino Transit Center

san_bernardino_crater
Reader Anna Jaiswal nominated this site and says more parking is on the way:

Omnitrans and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority opened the new San Bernardino Transit Center in downtown San Bernardino in September 2015, which is adjacent to a commuter rail line, a bus rapid transit line, and some 17 other bus routes. A new 166-space parking lot is being constructed on the south side of the tracks. The entire surrounding downtown area is rife with unused parking, including 2,000 spaces in the near-vacant City-owned Carousel Mall lot just one block to the North, the baseball stadium just one block to the South, and several strip retail centers neighboring the Transit Center.

Chicago -- Howard Street/Gateway Plaza

chicago_howard_st_gateway

This parking expanse by the Howard Street CTA station comes from reader Thorn Lamont, who writes:

Chicago's Gateway Plaza is a particularly embarrassing parking crater. Located just steps from one of the city's busiest transit hubs -- though as you can see from the bump-ins, they're some very treacherous steps -- Gateway Plaza is a most egregious example of transit indifferent development.

The Howard Street CTA station is one of the system's busiest, where three rail lines and numerous bus lines terminate. But the redeveloped shopping area is a setback strip mall that's more suited to outer fringes of suburbia. After nearly two decades, the mall still lends a palpable suburban deadness to the neighborhood.

This poll will be open until Thursday at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, and you can still vote in the Toronto vs. Medford match until 2 p.m. tomorrow.

parking_madness_2017

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Wednesday’s Headlines

A larger than usual headlines stack as we careen towards the 4th of July.

July 2, 2025

Inner Richmond Parents Fed Up with SFMTA Watering Down Safety

Mother of a child hit by a driver furious with city excuses for not taking daylighting and other safety measures seriously.

July 2, 2025

Governor Signs Major Changes to CEQA to Cheers from YIMBYs, Jeers from Environmental Groups

Newsom fast tracked changes to CEQA to fast track development and housing. But what do the changes to the law actually do?

July 1, 2025

Santa Monica and West Hollywood Bus Lane/Stop Enforcement Programs Start Today

Don't block the bus! Parking in a bus lane or at a bus stop will result in a $293 ticket.

July 1, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines

Gov Signs CEQA Bill to Increase Housing, Higher Fees on Parking and Tolls, Opposition to Road Widenings, ICE

July 1, 2025

Does Constant Driving Really Make Our Country Richer?

A new study reveals that constant driving is making America less productive and prosperous — and getting people on other modes could help right the ship.

June 30, 2025
See all posts