High populations and infrastructural densities give cities their unique appeal, but they also cause problems. Chief among these issues is the fact that vehicles become highly concentrated. They take up valuable space that cities could use for more valuable purposes. They also emit enough air pollution to significantly reduce air quality. From drivers’ perspectives, cities are also troublesome in that finding parking is difficult, traffic is slow, and maneuverability is limited. What are some city parking solutions to this problem? To make urban areas more comfortable for residents and visitors alike, finding ways to lower the number of cars and trucks on roads can work to great effect. Explore how to build cities for people instead of cars with these methods.
Schedule Car-Free Days
The shift toward a lower reliance on personal vehicles can’t happen too quickly, since citizens need some time to adjust to the lifestyle changes this entails. Cities can introduce people to the concept of days without driving by scheduling car-free days. The city government can designate certain areas where cars can’t travel on specific days. People can plan activities or events for the area, such as farmer’s markets or festivals. They may walk, ride a bicycle, or utilize public transportation instead of driving. Through this experience, they’ll start growing accustomed to days outside of their cars.
The city government can also use these days to make modifications to infrastructure that will allow the city to move closer to complete functionality in the absence of cars. Cities like Paris, France, and Bogota, Columbia have already implemented such measures successfully and fully adopted smart city parking solutions.
Set Aside Pedestrian-Only Areas
Following car-free days, cities can set aside full-time pedestrian-only areas. These can take the form of streets permanently closed off to automobile traffic, allowing people to walk freely without needing to make way for vehicles. Areas like this help people feel safer while walking, and this change can allow for more creative uses of the space. Rather than being dominated by parking and moving vehicles, people can set up booths and shops. The areas can also undergo public redesigns. Cities could consider creating miniature parks in the space, where people can sit down and go for pleasant strolls. Enriching areas like this can boost the image of the city, and even increase property values for the residents nearby.
Implement Technology That Communicates Road Conditions
Technology that tracks and communicates road conditions to drivers in real time can aid in preventing traffic jams. It can also promote alternative means of transport. For example, cities can set up digital signs that alert drivers when certain areas close down, like in the event of an accident. This helps drivers change their routes ahead of time, so they don’t have to face heavy traffic. This prevents slowdowns that happen when people drive to a stoppage point without realizing they can’t go that way. Applications on smartphones can also play a large role in making city streets less crowded. These can connect with GPS and other sensor systems throughout the city to help drivers find available parking and avoid traffic. Pedestrians will benefit from these technologies because they won’t spend as much time or energy getting to their destinations.
Create Tolls for Congested Areas
Setting up fees is an option when a city wants to restrict access to particular places. To reduce vehicular congestion in districts prone to traffic, cities can set up tolls. With these in place, the streets can become more accessible for pedestrians since traffic will no longer be as concentrated. People who normally drive to those locations may consider other transportation options so that they don’t need to spend as much money to go there. At the same time, the government can raise funds from the tolls, and it can use this money to work on infrastructure or public transportation. The city can, for instance, prioritize widening sidewalks and adding lanes for cyclists and buses on roads.
Redesign Streets To Favor Multimodal Transport
In their current state, the vast majority of city streets promote driving, while making it difficult, if not nearly impossible, for others to get around. They may feature little room for people to walk, and it could feel like traveling by car is much faster. If cities take the time to redesign streets, they can create an infrastructure that favors multimodal methods of transport. Updating streets can promote alternative means of transportation; the key is to make different methods as convenient as driving. As mentioned in the previous section, redistributing land to build clearer, broader paths for public transportation, cyclists, and pedestrians can dissuade people from using cars. To support this, the city can also create a bike or scooter-sharing program to make getting around without a car even easier.
Condense Land Devoted To Parking
Since street parking, parking lots, and parking garages are such a familiar component of cities, lawmakers may not realize just how much land a city can reclaim if they cut down on parking. Parking may seem like a necessity, but lawmakers should eliminate excess structures if they seek to build cities for people instead of cars. Utilizing the methods mentioned above can decrease the need for parking, and people can instead use that land for other needs.
Perhaps the best way to do this is to install mechanical car lifts. These can contribute to greater space efficiency, because they can stack one or more vehicles above the ground in a given spot. This allows cars to sit in previously unused vertical spaces within parking garages. Consequently, more cars can fit within a smaller area, freeing up land for other purposes. Furthermore, parking lift systems enable the city to maintain the number of parking spaces it requires. Parking lift manufacturers can customize the arrangement of their lifts to fit into numerous spaces as well, which is vital for cities that want to avoid unnecessary financial expenditures as they modify parking.
For a parking lift manufacturer that can offer adaptable parking solutions, contact Harding Steel. We can support cities as they strive to make the most of their available space.
