Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Parking Madness 2018

Parking Madness: San Jose vs. Lansing

2:16 PM EDT on March 28, 2018

It's early going in Parking Madness 2018 and we're still getting to know the field of 16 competitors. Today we're pleased to introduce two landmark parking craters, either of which could advance deep into the tournament.

Yesterday, we showed you parking horrors in Houston and Jacksonville. Voting is still open in that match.

Today's competition features two parking crater archetypes: A Bay Area transit station, and a state capitol in the cradle of America's automotive industry.

San Jose

sanjosediridoncrater

An anonymous reader nominated the area around San Jose Diridon Station, which is served by Caltrain, Valley Transportation Authority light rail, Amtrak, and several bus routes. Our submitter writes:

The areas directly to the north and east of San Jose's main train station are parking lots. While this crater does not seem as big as others, it is right next to the second busiest train station on the west coast. Not only the 2nd busiest station of California's west coast, but the entire west coast of the Western Hemisphere.

This area may not be such an awful parking crater for long, since it's slated for development under San Jose's Diridon Station Area plan. We think it's only fair to let this stupendous waste of land next to a busy transit hub compete in the tournament while it's still in such lamentable condition.

Lansing

lansing_crater

This is downtown Lansing, Michigan. Reader Rick Brown sends this description -- you can orient yourself here.

Yes. Most of these lots are for State of Michigan employees or visitors, particularly those between Kalamazoo and Ottawa Streets, west of Pine Street. The series of buildings between Allegan and Ottawa west of the capitol itself are all state offices and the one north of the circle on Washtenaw is the State Historical Museum and Archives.

It's fitting that the capitol of the state most associated with the auto industry has been flattened by fields of car storage. But Lansing is hardly unique in that regard -- plenty of other capitols are overrun by parking for state employees too.

Vote below to send one of these craters on to round two.

parking_madness_2018

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday’s Headlines Are Tired Out

Whether it's from degradation or the dust resulting from wear and tear, it's becoming increasingly clear that tire and brake emissions are harmful, perhaps even exceeding tailpipe emissions.

September 22, 2023

Study: What Road Diets Mean For Older Drivers

"After a road diet, all motorists seem to drive at a rate that feels comfortable to a mildly-impaired older adult."

September 22, 2023

Op-Ed: Why Is Fare Evasion Punished More Severely than Speeding?

A.B. 819 offers California the opportunity to decriminalize fare evasion and replace punitive measures with more equitable approaches.

September 21, 2023

Talking Headways Podcast: Local Culture and Development

We chat with Tim Sprague from Phoenix about supporting local culture through development projects and the importance of sustainable development and transportation.

September 21, 2023

City of Yes Yes Yes! Adams Calls for Elimination of Parking Mandates on ALL New Housing

Mayor Adams today announced the historic end to one of the city’s most antiquated — and despised — zoning laws requiring the construction of parking with every new development.

September 21, 2023
See all posts