Could Parking Meters Solve Traffic Snafus Around Schools?

One blogger wonders if parking meters would help solve the morning and afternoon traffic jams by discouraging parents from driving their kids to school -- all the while lowering emissions and raising revenue for public education.

1 minute read

March 21, 2007, 1:00 PM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


Duane Laird, a contributor to AboutMyPlanet.com, suggests that putting parking meters around schools might just be the answer for not one, but many problems.

"Hawthorne Elementary, like all schools, has a problem with too many cars dropping off children. Some mornings it is a regular traffic jam, and it certainly isn't safe for the children who walk to school...

"Parking meters on school grounds, and on the streets adjacent to schools would solve not one, but four problems."

"First, they would assuage people's guilt about driving their children to school...Secondly, the money from the meters could be used to fund school activities...Thirdly, it would encourage bicycling and walking..."

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 in AboutMyPlanet.com

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

30 minutes ago - Outdoor Life

SMall backyard cottage ADU in San Diego, California.

San Diego Votes to Rein in “Towering” ADUs

City council voted to limit the number of units in accessory buildings to six — after confronting backyard developments of up to 100 units behind a single family home.

June 18 - NBC San Diego

Large tower under construction with crane with American and Texas flags in downtown Austin, Texas against sunset sky.

Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing

Smaller homes on smaller lots, office to apartment conversions, and 40% less say for NIMBYs, vote state lawmakers.

June 18 - The Texas Tribune