Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.
UCLA professor emeritus and world-renowned parking reform advocate Donald Shoup died last Friday, prompting a wave of tributes from fans, colleagues, and former students.
Known for his seminal book The High Cost of Free Parking, Shoup demonstrated for the first time “how urban parking policies — i.e. low-cost or "free" parking and mandatory parking requirements, were damaging cities economically and culturally,” according to a Streetsblog NYC article by Gersh Kuntzman.
Streetsblog California’s Damien Newton and Melanie Curry explained his legacy, writing, “His message was simple, although at first few wanted to hear it. ‘Parking is free for us only in our role as motorist — not in our roles as taxpayer, employer, commuter, shopper, renter, as a homeowner,’ he pointed out. ‘The cost of parking does not cease to exist just because the motorist doesn't pay for it.’”
Donald Shoup was an exuberant advocate for better cities and a joy to work with. He was a Planetizen Courses instructor and an occasional contributor to Planetizen. Just months ago, he was actively working on a proposal for a pay-on-exit policy to fund sidewalk repairs in Los Angeles.
Shoup’s work on Planetizen:
FULL STORY: Tributes Pour in for Parking Reformer, Urbanist Mentor Donald Shoup
Editorial: Pittsburgh Fails to Provide Adequate Parking Around Downtown
New development coming to Downtown Pittsburgh lacks sufficient parking, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Parking Minimums Not Required in a Larger Section of Houston
The Houston Council voted yesterday to extend its market-base parking program.
Has Anyone at USDOT Read Donald Shoup?
USDOT employees, who are required to go back to the office, will receive free parking at the agency’s D.C. offices — flying in the face of a growing research body that calls for pricing parking at its real value.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process
The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.
New Alaska Bitcoin Mine Would Burn as Much Energy as the State’s Largest Coal Plant
Fueled by “stranded” natural gas, the startup hopes to become the largest in the US, and to make Alaska an industry center.
New Jersey Duplexes Elicit Mixed Reactions
Modern, two-unit residences are proliferating in northern New Jersey communities, signaling for some a boon to the housing supply and to others a loss of historic architecture.
Renters Now Outnumber Homeowners in Over 200 US Suburbs
High housing costs in city centers and the new-found flexibility offered by remote work are pushing more renters to suburban areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Municipality of Princeton
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
City of Mt Shasta
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)