How cities invent parking quotas, in 71 animated seconds

This short cartoon shows how cities make up parking requirements from junk science.

This is part 12 of a Sightline series on parking requirements. Read parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

I explained this already. It took me 1,025 words to detail how cities make up parking quotas from junk science. Maximum parking tallies become minimum parking requirements, which become landscapes flooded with free parking, which induces more driving, which leads to higher tallies of maximum parking. Repeat.

Reader support makes our work possible. Donate today to keep our site free. All donations DOUBLED!

One Time
Monthly

$10
$15
Other

Artist Don Baker explains it in 71 seconds. Behold:

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/74063481]

A message from

All donations matched for a limited time!

Grist is the only award-winning newsroom focused on exploring equitable solutions to climate change. It’s vital reporting made entirely possible by loyal readers like you. At Grist, we don’t believe in paywalls. Instead, we rely on our readers to pitch in what they can so that we can continue bringing you our solution-based climate news. Donate now and your gift will be DOUBLED. Join us as a $25/month donor or make a $300 one-time gift, and we’ll send you a limited-edition gift bundle as a token of our gratitude. It’s our way of saying thanks for supporting our work.

Donate Now Not Now