Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Chinese Communist Party Emulates America’s Socialist Parking Policies

Around the Network today:

The Pricetag for Parking in China: Right now, parking policies in China actually seem to be more market-oriented than in the United States. Residential parking spaces in Beijing are as high as $125,000, which Paul Barter at Network blog Reinventing Parking says is a sign that parking is currently priced at about the same rate as housing. "Property prices are a market phenomenon," he writes. "And parking is being treated more or less like real estate in this situation. So we shouldn't really expect its price to just reflect costs."

But the Chinese government is threatening to upset the market for parking, and that could be bad news for cities like Beijing. "Newly increased parking minimums can be expected to gradually increase supply (at least in areas with a lot of new development) and send prices lower if it gets ahead of demand," Barter writes. "But even without this government-imposed increase in supply, market forces would also put a lid on prices. At some point, investors would notice if parking is a profitable thing to build. Maybe they already are?"

false

The Crosswalk Factor: Pedestrian advocates tend to focus a lot on the importance of sidewalks. But as Network blog The Greater Marin points out, sidewalks are of limited use without another important treatment: crosswalks. Blogger Octavius III uses the town of San Anselmo as an example. In some areas of the city, crosswalks are as far as a half-mile apart. This puts pedestrians in a dangerous position.

"A road system isn’t much of a road system if you need to drive 15 minutes out of your way to turn, and a sidewalk system isn’t much good if one needs to walk 15 minutes to cross the street," he says. "A good crosswalk will enhance an entire streetscape, making it more inviting to pedestrians and more lively for all users. In contrast, a streetscape without crosswalks can be dangerous. If crosswalks are far enough apart, the two halves of the street will be cut off from each other, dramatically reducing the walkability of the area."

Portland's Bike Sharing Plans: The city of Portland is making a big push for bike sharing. Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland reports that the city's Bicycle Transportation Alliance is working to secure $4 million in start-up funds. The city has even been exploring the particulars of how the system will function. Maus has learned that early planning documents indicate the system wouldn't require helmets. Planners also favor a low-priced system with stations densely concentrated in the city core, rather than thinly spread across a wider area. In addition, the city's plans call for beefing up its existing cycling infrastructure to help support a new wave of peddlers on the streets, Maus reports. Exciting stuff!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Best of 2024: Yes, People Bike In ‘Bad’ Weather — If We Support Them

Good policy can mean the difference between people getting in the saddle or not — even when Mother Nature is at her worst.

December 26, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines Are the Reason for the Season

An MTA worker's delightful after-work hobby, a viral sidewalk meme revisited and a few wonkier deep dives to get you through the holidays.

December 24, 2024

Best of 2024: The Real (Disappointing) Reason Why Gen Z Is Getting Fewer Drivers Licenses

Yes, fewer young adults are getting behind the wheel. No, it doesn't mean car culture is doomed.

December 24, 2024

Streetsblog Year in Review: The Biggest Sustainable Transport News of 2024

It was a busy year in the movement to end car dependency — and there's a lot more to come.

December 23, 2024

Monday’s Headlines Are Knocked Out by Greenways

Greenways are helping to revitalize cities, but how well are they integrated into the overall transportation system?

December 23, 2024
See all posts