Yes, Getting Rid of Parking Minimums Is Good for the Climate—But That’s Just the Tip of the Iceberg

According to a recent article from TIME, a new law mandates that cities in California will no longer be able to impose parking minimums for housing, retail, or commercial development that sit within half a mile of major public transit stops. While this isn't a blanket elimination of parking minimums, is it at least a step in the right direction? And was it helpful or not for the law to be framed around climate concerns?

Today on Upzoned, Chuck Marohn is stepping in as host for Abby Kinney as he talks with Strong Towns Program Director Rachel Quednau about the impact of this state-wide reform, what it means for this decision to have been made at the state level rather than locally, the myriad benefits of eliminating parking minimums (beyond just being good for the climate), and more.

• “Americans' Addiction to Parking Lots Is Bad for the Climate. California Wants to End It,” by Ciara Nugent, Time (September 2022).

• Learn more about our campaign to end parking mandates and subsidies.

• View our map of cities that have removed parking minimums, created as a joint project with the Parking Reform Network.

• “The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Ending Parking Minimums and Seeing the Results,” hosted by Rachel Quednau, The Bottom-Up Revolution (June 2022).

• Chuck Marohn (Twitter).

• Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.