From Slate:
When we think of the environmental damage caused by cars, we tend to focus on the CO2 and other gaseous emmissions. Certainly, this is where the focus remains as far as government regulations are concerned, along with consumption guidlines. But this is yet another case where we have to look at the big picture of how our lifestyles and choices impact the environment.
Steven Landsburg, economics professor at Rochester University, is releasing a new book this month titled More Sex Is Safer Sex: The Unconventional Wisdom of Economics, which explores some of the less obvious economic impacts of western societal behaviours and patterns.
In it, he explains how the environmental impact of parking is actually far greater than the impact of driving.
In an adaptation Landsburg wrote for Slate, he explains:
“Urban on-street parking is almost always underpriced, which is why you can almost never find a spot. In many cases, it would be better to have no on-street parking at all, freeing up that real estate for expanded homes, shops and cafes or additional driving lanes. Of course then it would be even harder to find a spot, but a lot of people would switch to public transportation, which would be all to the good.”
The article is an interesting and compelling read. It details some of the other environmental impacts of parking, and might give you cause to sit back and think about the larger impacts of some of our other macroeconomic habits.
