Alexandria on the Cusp of Eliminating All SFH Zoning

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

This is a bit like arguing that cutting taxes on the rich results in more jobs because they have more money to invest, and yet I'm certain you don't believe that.

It's not like that at all. Everyone seems to understand the "people choose not to go by bus because it's inconvenient" argument without any problems, but the "people choose not to go by car because it's inconvenient" argument is surprisingly difficult for a surprising number of people to understand.

Cars are a bajillion times more convenient than any other mode of transportation (which is why they're so popular), and making parking more difficult isn't going to change that. If you make it harder to park in one area, people will just go somewhere else. They have cars! It's easy to skip across town. This notion that people will give up their cars and start riding bikes or the bus if you just make it hard to park is nonsense (and belied by the data -- biking remains wildly unpopular, and bus ridership is lower than it was 20 years ago).

The data says the opposite:

"Cheap, excessive parking has been linked to more drive-alone commutes, worse traffic congestion, higher rents, and all the other social costs of over-reliance on cars for urban mobility."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-12/study-the-strongest-evidence-yet-that-abudant-parking-causes-more-driving

You think Bloomberg is a neutral, unbiased source? Interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

Who knew?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

The point being more people want to live within walking distance than the current supply allows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

The point being more people want to live within walking distance than the current supply allows.

within walking distance of EVERYTHING, though?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

The point being more people want to live within walking distance than the current supply allows.

More people also want to live in bigger houses with larger yards and fewer neighbors than the current supply allows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

The point being more people want to live within walking distance than the current supply allows.

More people also want to date supermodels than the current supply allows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

The point being more people want to live within walking distance than the current supply allows.

More people also want to live in bigger houses with larger yards and fewer neighbors than the current supply allows.

Look at the prices in Old Town, then other parts of the city. Why is Old Town so much more expensive if space is what people want?

Changing the zoning makes it possible for there to be more "Old Town" type living in Alexandria. Its what people actually want, and will pay for.

You can get away without having your own car in Old Town, or you can live car-lite. Having 3+ cars per household is a thing of the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

The point being more people want to live within walking distance than the current supply allows.

More people also want to live in bigger houses with larger yards and fewer neighbors than the current supply allows.

Look at the prices in Old Town, then other parts of the city. Why is Old Town so much more expensive if space is what people want?

Changing the zoning makes it possible for there to be more "Old Town" type living in Alexandria. Its what people actually want, and will pay for.

You can get away without having your own car in Old Town, or you can live car-lite. Having 3+ cars per household is a thing of the past.

You really think Old Town is replicable? It’s the fact that it’s not that drives the cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

The point being more people want to live within walking distance than the current supply allows.

More people also want to live in bigger houses with larger yards and fewer neighbors than the current supply allows.

Look at the prices in Old Town, then other parts of the city. Why is Old Town so much more expensive if space is what people want?

Changing the zoning makes it possible for there to be more "Old Town" type living in Alexandria. Its what people actually want, and will pay for.

You can get away without having your own car in Old Town, or you can live car-lite. Having 3+ cars per household is a thing of the past.

You really think Old Town is replicable? It’s the fact that it’s not that drives the cost.

Of course it is replicable, or if it's not replicable because the zoning laws make it illegal, then the zoning laws need to change.

[Anonymous]

But that's my whole point. If you don't improve bus service, people are still likely going to pick driving, even if they have to search for street parking for the car.


DP. If parking is more inconvenient, people are less likely to have a(nother) vehicle and also less likely to use that vehicle.

Most of the places my kids go (sports fields, a program for youth where they work, an animal shelter where they volunteer, their school at off hours or weekends) have parking - I just don't have a car to give them. The fact of that parking doesn't change the fact that a DASH bus only comes once every 25 minutes on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Bus ridership is in the toilet. Biking is the least popular mode of transportation in the DMV, other than scooters.

I have zero interest in biking, as I generally prefer to dress up a little bit even for every day stuff out and about town. If the bus came more often, I would absolutely take it. I used to live in NYC and used the bus system all the time there, it was generally easy and buses came frequently.

[Anonymous]

This thread has jumped the shark with an incessant, annoying poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand how having fewer parking spaces per unit is supposed to work until DASH service is improved. My kids take it to school and home from sports and to their weekend jobs, and the waits can be really long at times. I can't see it being a viable option for many adults.

Parking induces driving. If you make it easy to park a second/third/etc... vehicle, then people will buy those vehicles. Then trips that could have been carpool/bus/walking/bike get turned into car trips because the spare car is available.

Lack of parking per unit does not reduce vehicle reliance where street parking is readily available, as is the case for most of ALX outside of Old Town.

Efficient, reliable mass transit, as PP pointed out, can reduce the reliance on vehicles.

You know what helps make mass transit efficient and reliable? When there are more people living in a given area. For example, if duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are allowed in an area where previously only uniplexes were allowed.

Really? So the presence of those housing types solves hiring issues for transit providers and reduces delays in schedules times?

Mass transit has probably peaked for the foreseeable future. There is a triple whammy of crime, driver shortages, and difficulty financing capital projects.

That being said, we're at peak car as well. Walking and micro-mobility are the growth areas.

Suddenly everyone lives within walking distance of where they want to go?

The point being more people want to live within walking distance than the current supply allows.

More people also want to live in bigger houses with larger yards and fewer neighbors than the current supply allows.

Look at the prices in Old Town, then other parts of the city. Why is Old Town so much more expensive if space is what people want?

Changing the zoning makes it possible for there to be more "Old Town" type living in Alexandria. Its what people actually want, and will pay for.

You can get away without having your own car in Old Town, or you can live car-lite. Having 3+ cars per household is a thing of the past.

Well at least we can all agree on the fact that it’s not about the “missing middle.” Most folks could never afford Old Town.