Consider This from NPR How Parking Explains Everything
May 9, 2023
In this engaging discussion with Henry Grabar, author of "Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World," listeners dive into the absurdity of America's parking obsession. Grabar highlights how we sacrifice affordable housing and walkable neighborhoods for parking space, unveiling the staggering statistic of six parking spots for every car. He shares anecdotes, like a frantic three-hour search for a lost car, illustrating urban stressors. Ultimately, he calls for a shift toward prioritizing housing and community over car storage.
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Lost Car Saga
- Amy Kondayan lost her car for days in a Washington D.C. parking garage.
- Similar incidents are common, highlighting the abundance and similarity of garages in American cities.
Parking Dominance
- Parking is the largest land use in many American cities.
- America dedicates more space to storing cars than to housing people.
Car Housing Surplus
- The U.S. has more housing for cars than for people.
- This stems from mandatory parking minimums for buildings, contrasting with housing maximums.
