Parking… the missing link in the future evolution of our cities

Parking… the missing link in the future evolution of our cities.

New parking regulations and management may be the key to sustainable city development.  Donald Shoup’s ground-breaking research, reported in “The High Cost of Free Parking” (2005) explains how our traditional approach to parking management may be the single biggest barrier to compact development and the development of sustainable travel options. 

In New Zealand, district plans continue to mandate the provision of vast amounts of parking for most new developments. Parking standards are based on the demand for free parking at the peak hour of each of each individual site, which creates an oversupply and considerably undervalues the land used for car parks. This approach drives up the price of urban land used for economically productive uses (residential, commercial and retail) and distributes the costs throughout the economy.

Parking management is an incredible opportunity for local councils to achieve their transport and urban development goals at very low cost. However, it will require a paradigm shift and the involvement of business and local communities to be politically successful.  Hamilton City is among the first cities in New Zealand to pioneer this new approach

Angus Hulme-Moir has recently completed his master’s degree in environmental science at Victoria University on the topic of the role that parking policy can play in achieving sustainable transport goals. Angus was a New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities Scholarship recipient in 2009.

Julie Anne Genter is a consultant for McCormick Rankin Cagney and a specialist in parking management reform. She has worked with cities in New Zealand and Australia, and presented the new parking paradigm at numerous conferences, seminars and events.

Philip King, tbc, Hamilton City Council, Access Hamilton Coordinator. His role is the face of ‘active travel’ for the council, and involved construction of the city cycle network, improvements for pedestrians, promotion of walking and cycling using the media and websites, and trying to understand and help with resident’s concerns and fears about being on foot or on a bike. He is also working to deliver national and local strategies to do what we can to increase levels of sustainable travel and at the same time reduce accidents, air pollution and congestion.

>Thursday, 26 August, 11:30 -1:00pm

Small Lecture Theatre,

Level D, Wellington School of Medicine

23a Mien St, Newtown, Wellington

Jan Logie

Development Manager

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Department of Public Health

University of Otago , Wellington

p: 04 918 6854 m: 021 038 6101 f: 04 389 5319

PO Box 7343 , Wellington South 6242

http://sustainablecities.org.nz

http://www.uow.otago.ac.nz

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