Significances of Parking Reform towards Urban Planning - Literature review Example

Significances of parking reform towards urban planning Introduction Urban planning consists of developments in various fields such as transportation, communication, environmental and economic development planning (Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, 2011). However, such reforms are also not without their negative aspects effects, making it essential to have continuous observation to ensure the attainment of urbanization goals through reformative measures wherever required. Emphasizing the similar issue, this essay will focus on the reforms to be made in the transportation sector, with reference to the concerns highlighted in the article titled “Yes, Parking Reform is Possible” by Donald Shoup. Therefore, the primary aim of this essay will lie on the explanation of the urban planning in terms of parking reforms, which will be attained through the review of the selected article. Review of the article “Yes, Parking Reform is Possible” In the previously mentioned article, Shoup (2011) highlighted the fact that in the major cities of the world, car parking is one of the vital requirements of the daily life. In this situation, the rate of car parking must be appropriate for the people to make it more convenient for them and to encourage them to abide by the parking rules established in the region. While the prevalent picture of the parking charges within the US has been contrary to the raised concern, with high parking rent charged by the authorities, resulting in unequal distribution of parked cars in different blocks (according to their different parking charges). Accordingly, Shoup (2011) was of the view that increasing car-parking rent might cause severe harm to the society in the long-run. This statement can be explained with the help of an example. If the authority of a shopping mall is charging too high price of car parking rent, it is quite possible that the volume of customers visiting the mall will gradually shrink due to the inconvenience or they will aim at parking their cars in some other place to avoid high parking charges. Thus, a high risk prevails that there will be a huge loss of income in the shopping malls, which will lead to the non-payment of tax revenue to the city’s local authority. The other noticeable content of the article can be termed as that the concept of free parking, which has been attributed to provide considerable economic advantages to the local taxi drivers along with contributing to the economic development of the region on the whole by Shoup (2011). This statement in Shoup (2011) is agreeable, as the proper parking system will add value to the economic development of the city as well as the nation. Shoup (2011) also highlighted that the cities, which adopt the free parking system, does not essentially aim at raising the amount of corporate revenue of the city. Rather, it is often attributed as beneficial to reduce the traffic congestion in the roads and make the people aware of the needs for a sustainable urban design. Free parking facility also aids in bringing about urbanization within the city, as it has been proved in many of the cities of the US (Levy, 2012). Performance pricing of parking is one of the measures adopted by most of the cities, as stated by Shoup (2011) in the article of free car parking. As per the analysis of the article, it can be affirmed that performance pricing strategy aids the urban planning system of the transportation sector providing three of major benefits. The initial benefit of the performance pricing strategy in car parking is that through the system of curb parking system in accordance to the performance pricing, the public can avail the facility of easily available parking blocks and within a reasonable range of price. The other benefit that can be derived through such an approach is smooth development of the transportation system of the city. The curb parking is also quite likely to provide systematic traffic rules and subsequently, prevent from unnecessary overcrowding of the traffic. The prevention of traffic overcrowding can be done with the introduction of two or more parking blocks in a particular region or county area. Finally, the other benefit that can be extracted from the performance pricing is that the local economy of the city will be improved. Performance pricing strategy provides the customers with a standard and reasonable range of parking fare. Adopting this strategy, more and more people are likely to be attracted towards availing the use of parking lots and aid the local authority with better amount of corporate tax. Hence, it is believed that the economic condition of the city will be enhanced and blessed with good earning of corporate tax Levy, 2012; Shoup, 2011). Shoup (2011) further highlighted that the system of curb parking is also an important element for the services rendered to the public. With regards to this statement, City of Seattle (2014) denotes that the car drivers in many of the countries are never willing to pay the parking fee. In context to this problem of non-payment of curb parking fee, the solution concluded by Levy (2012) concentrated on the request for payment of service charges along with the car parking fee. In brief, Shoup (2011) suggested that the authority could collect fee from the public by providing packages, which would contain the performance pricing strategy along with added services. The package that would be provided to the customers would include few of the exciting rewards such as gift hampers. It will attract the customers to avail the offers and in return help the local authority to get more tax revenues (Shoup, 2011). Taking such an initiative as a noteworthy example for urbanization, it can be affirmed that proper urban design will certainly help in improving the living standard of the local people (Levy, 2012). Since, the ancient times, it was believed that urbanization is successful due to the developmental actions of the people. The planning of urbanization is the major responsibility of the planners assigned to do so. Fundamentally, urbanization deals with the development of the city, bringing about a change in the various sectors. For instance, in the aforesaid essay, planning of urbanization can be termed as the improvement or development in the fee of car parking (Levy, 2012; Moughtin & et al, 1999). Accordingly, as per the study of Shoup (2011), it can be mentioned that proper and planned urbanization brings about positive changes and improvements in the lives of the people. My own personal experience shall be helpful to illustrate this improvement aspect. Last week, with the introduction of a new parking system in my apartment, a certain fixed amount was payable to everyone using the car parking lot as an annual service charge. The secretary also stated the reason for implementing the new method to use the extra amount of payment made at the year-end for the urbanization process of the apartment and its surroundings. Almost, all the members of the apartment agreed to the reformative measure, with the perception that it would help in adding value to the standard of their life along with bringing a development in the area. Emphasizing the similar measure at a broader context, as per my understanding, with the proper payment of service tax, the city will obtain considerable benefits that can further improve the living standard of the people in the county. In context to this aspect, it can also be stated that proper urban design can help in developing the city and bringing about a developmental change in the lives of the people (Ministry for the Environment, 2005). Conclusion From a critical point of view, it has been analyzed that urbanization is a process, which emphasizes the improvement of the living standard of the people along with the local and national economy. Emphasizing the notion, this essay contains the major understanding of the significances provided by the parking reforms towards the urban planning. From the study, it could be apparently noted that proper charges of parking fee constitutes the prevention of unnecessary traffic congestion, brings growth to the economic development of the city and also acts in cohesion with other social developmental policies aimed at improving the living standard of the local people. Therefore, it can be suggested that a proper urban design must be made so that the implementation of urbanization rules, such as appropriate parking charges, can be made easier in the city. References Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. (2011). Urban and regional planning. Retrieved from http://www.acsp.org/sites/default/files/2011_ACSP_Guide.pdf City of Seattle. (2014). 2011 Performance-Based Parking Pricing Study. Retrieved from https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/parking/performancepricing.htm Levy, J. M. (2012). Contemporary Urban Planning. USA: Pearson Education. Ministry for the Environment. (2005). Urban design case studies. Auckland University of Technology, 1-100. Moughtin, C., Cuesta, R., Sarris, C., & Signoretta, P. (1999). Urban design: method and techniques. United Kingdom: Architectural Press. Shoup, D. (2011). Yes, parking reform is possible. The magazine of the American Planning Association, 31-35. Read More