It’s a coveted amenity that’s all but a given for renters in some communities, but what is the true cost of bundled parking?
Recent studies show that providing parking encourages car ownership and driving, while decreasing reliance on public transportation, leading to increased congestion and emissions that contribute to the climate crisis.
But that’s only part of the story.
Despite calls to create more walkable and environmentally sustainable communities, many municipalities across the U.S. have zoning rules in place that require developers to create a certain amount of parking as part of any new residential, commercial, or mixed-use construction.