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Parking Management.Strategies, Evaluation and Planning <br /> Victoria Transport Policy Institute <br /> Paradigm Shift <br /> Parking planning is undergoing a paradigm shift, a fundamental change in how a problem <br /> is perceived and solutions evaluated. The old paradigm assumes that parking should be <br /> abundant and free at most destinations. It strives to maximize supply and minimize price. <br /> The old paradigm assumes that parking lots should almost never fill,that parking facility <br /> costs should be incorporated into the costs of buildings or subsidized by governments, <br /> and that every destination should satisfy its own parking needs. <br /> The new paradigm strives to provide optimal parking supply and price. It considers too <br /> much supply as harmful as too little, and prices that are too low as harmful as those that <br /> are too high..The new paradigm strives to use parking facilities efficiently. It considers <br /> full lots to be acceptable,provided that additional parking is available nearby,and that <br /> any spillover problems are addressed. It emphasizes sharing of parking facilities between <br /> different destinations. It favors charging parking facility costs directly to users, and <br /> providing financial rewards to people who reduce their parking demand. <br /> The old paradigm tends to resist change. It places a heavy burden of proof on innovation. <br /> The new paradigm recognizes that transport and land use conditions evolve so parking <br /> planning practices need frequent adjustment. It shifts the burden of proof,allowing new <br /> approached to be tried until their effectiveness(or lack thereof)is proven. Table 1 <br /> compares the old and new parking paradigms. <br /> Table 1 Old and New Parking Para di ms Compared <br /> k Old Parking Paradigm New Parking Paradigm <br /> "Parking problem"means inadequate parking There can be many types of parking problems,including <br /> supply. inadequate or excessive supply,too low or high prices, <br /> inadequate user information and inefficient management. <br /> Abundant parking supply is always desirable. Too much supply is as harmful as too little. <br /> Parking should generally be provided free,funded As much as possible,users should pay directly for parking <br /> indirectly,through rents and taxes. facilities. <br /> Parking should be available on a first-come basis. Parking should be regulated to favor higher priority uses <br /> and encourage efficiency. <br /> Parking requirements should be applied rigidly, Parking requirements should reflect each particular <br /> without exception or variation. situation,and should be applied flexibly. <br /> Innovation faces a high burden of proof and should Innovations should be encouraged,since even unsuccessful <br /> only be applied if proven and widely accepted. experiments often provide useful information. <br /> Parking management is a last resort,to be applied Parking management programs should be widely applied to <br /> only if increasing supply is infeasible. prevent parking problems. <br /> "Transportation"means driving.Land use Driving is just one type of transport.Dispersed,automobile- <br /> dispersion(sprawl is acceptable or even desirable. I dependent land use patterns can be undesirable. <br /> Parking management changes the way parking problems are defined and solutions evaluated. <br /> r <br /> 7 <br />