Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
California

Parking Madness 2015: Detroit vs. Walnut Creek

4:03 PM EDT on March 19, 2015

The Parking Madness competition has never been fiercer. In yesterday's match-up, Parkersburg, West Virginia, edged Boston by a slim 12 votes, and before that, Amarillo beat out Nashville by just six votes. Your ballot counts.

We have two doozies to feast your eyes on today. The Detroit waterfront is taking on the Bay Area suburb of Walnut Creek, California.

Detroit

detroit_crater

Submitter Luke Klipp describes this crater as "a swath of surface parking lining the city's waterfront just east of the Renaissance Center," a cluster of office towers that serve as General Motors HQ.

Klipp says:

Detroit's waterfront is really sad when compared to its Canadian neighbor across the river, Windsor, whose waterfront is 3 miles of uninterrupted parkway. By comparison, Detroit has a couple parks near the Renaissance Center and then lots of parking right up to the waterfront.

For all the wealth generated by GM, its corporate surroundings look incredibly barren. Another view:

ren_crater

Now let's check out the competition.

Walnut Creek, California

walnut_creek_straight

This entry comes to us via commenter Claire B, who says:

Walnut Creek, California, is located only 35 minutes from downtown San Francisco by BART (metro). I live in Walnut Creek because my home is 1.5 miles from the BART station but also 0.3 miles from a trailhead accessing 500 miles of dirt trails around Mt. Diablo. Off the photo to the right is the Iron Horse Trail, a 35 mile-long paved separated class I bike/ped facility running north/south. As you can see from the photo, to access the BART station (bottom/left quartile of photo) from the trail (0.7 miles away) one has to pass by or through parking lot after parking lot on a busy road or sidewalk. The city of Walnut Creek could have a bustling people-filled downtown but instead allocates much space to car storage.

This is the second year in a row the area surrounding a BART station has been featured in Parking Madness. Last year, El Cerrito, about 12 miles west, made it to the Elite 8 on much the same argument.

Here's another view of Walnut Creek:

walnut_creek_labeled

The only question remaining is which landscape represents a more criminal waste of potential? Vote below.

parking_madness_2015

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Monday’s Headlines Are Open for Business

Monday will be just another Monday for federal employees, as Congress avoided a government shutdown. Plus, declining gas tax revenue provides an opportunity to rethink transportation funding.

October 2, 2023

Why Connecticut is Investing in New Regional Rail

Gov. Ned Lamont will spend $315 million investment on new rail cars — but they're not going anywhere near Grand Central. Here's why.

October 2, 2023

To Help Save the Planet, Take the ‘Week Without Driving’ Challenge

Former Sierra Club President Ramón Cruz is urging Americans to give up driving for seven days — and support policies to make it optional for everyone.

September 29, 2023

Labor Gains: NYC Judge Tosses App Giants’ Suit to Stop Deliverista Minimum Wage

Justice Nicholas Moyne cleared the way for a long-delayed wage hike for workers who brave dangerous roads to bring food directly to New Yorkers.

September 29, 2023

Friday’s Headlines Are Charged Up

Expect a lot fewer ordinary gas stations and a few more Buc-ee's in your area as the electric vehicle transition continues.

September 29, 2023
See all posts