We Love Cars

We Especially Love Streetcars

We don’t expect that a streetcar will replace driving.

But what we do expect is that we’ll be driving less. Walking more. Bicycling more. And gliding on rails, of course.

Less Parking, More Transit

Omaha spends less than half of the national average on public transportation. Other cities will literally be passing us by if we don’t change our priorities from parking to public transportation.

We revisited the presentation that our guest speaker Steven Jensen from Steven Jensen Consulting gave last November at one of our first events. He cited this study outlined in CityLab, which found that cities that invested transit instead of parking actually had higher rates of vehicle ownership.

Let that sink in: cities with less parking had higher rates of folks with cars. How is that possible?

Better Jobs, Better Pay

In cities that prioritize jobs over parking, people and businesses move back into the urban core. Not only do jobs end up being created, but these are good jobs with higher salaries than in cities that continue to invest in parking.

As the CityLab article states: “Less parking in these places has meant the urban fabric can be stitched back together and there is more space for shops, restaurants, jobs and other things that make cities great. More importantly, the parking isn’t needed. People own cars at higher rates, but they don’t use them as much. Instead, they live close to the urban core where upwards of 30 percent walk or bike to work.”

For a detailed explanation on Omaha’s parking problem, watch this clip from his presentation on Nov. 14.

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