Rethinking Lifestyle

The new SCU building is about to open, Steinbach City Council is in the midst of planning for a much expanded recreation centre, and we, the public, have just been able to participate in an open house to discuss these facility concepts. This is a good time to discuss the role free parking plays in the development of our city.

Let’s first be clear about one thing. There is no such thing as free parking. The creation and maintenance of a parking space costs money and someone is paying for it. Space devoted to parking is space not available for other purposes. Depending on who owns the land set aside for parking, either the city (and hence the taxpayer) or the merchant [and hence the customer] pays for the parking. It is free only to the motorist.

Consider how much of the land in our city is devoted to parking? Take a critical walk along Main Street or open Google Earth and have a look. The layout of our city encourages the use of a car over walking or biking in two ways: first because of the space devoted to parking, our city is more sprawling, and hence harder to walk around; and second anyone taking a car is certain to find a convenient parking space. So why not take a car?

But there are serious downsides to a city having ample free parking. Wouldn’t we all agree that of the three options: an attractive store front, a green space or a parking lot, a parking lot is the least attractive. Anyone who has, on his travels, visited the dense part of a city (where cars are often banned) will agree that dense cities are more attractive than sprawling cities. And as we walk to our downtown shopping or from one shop to the next we great the people we meet, and we become a friendlier, happier city.

As we become more active in the way we get around; as we walk more and as we bike more, we get healthier. We are more in tune with nature. We are happier. Our corporate health care bill goes down.

Sprawl drives up both housing prices and property tax.

What’s the alternative to free parking? Paid parking, of course. This idea will be a shock to some people, but consider: where does the notion that we are entitled to free parking originate?

And how much should we pay? Let the free market determine that. If free parking is to be offered, let it be done because it makes business sense, but make sure that the beneficiary pays.

Were Steinbach to adopt a market price parking policy, it would take a while for merchants and the rest of us to adjust to this new reality. The notion that free parking is a fundamental right and a necessary component of progressive development, runs deep. There would be significant barriers to overcome were we to move in that direction. But in the end, we would all be better off.