Reply to S/O What should MoCo do about parking in downtown Bethesda

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

I do plenty to limit my carbon emissions and I contribute (monetarily and time) to organizations involved in related efforts.

But I feel absolutely zero guilt and will not be remotely shamed for my 8 minute drive into Bethesda rather than taking a bus that would add at least 20 minutes to my commute each way, often more if I miss the bus and have to wait for the next one.  (The app is helpful, but in addition to not always being accurate, I don't always have complete control over when I am able to be at the bus stop, so it doesn't solve all the problems of only every 30 minutes.)

The emissions from such a very short ride is negligible and I am sure there are many things that you do that have as much or impact on the environment.[/quote]

Don't feel guilt or shame, that's fine with me.

But, as the PP said, don't expect public policy to make it easy for you to get to Bethesda Metro by driving yourself and parking. In fact, public policy should make it increasingly hard. That's the stick. Public policy should also provide carrots, in the form of improving other options for you to get there. [/quote]

I'm not the PP, but here's my response: public policy around transportation has to advance multiple objectives. Reducing emissions, yes, but also addressing community needs AND reducing inequality. The lack of parking in downtown Bethesda and the restrictions on driving through the surrounding neighborhoods have basically created gated communities for the one percent. Everyone else in the surrounding area is forced to rely on (very unreliable and intermittent) buses or drive further (and hence contribute more to negative climate impacts) for necessary amenities. That's bad public policy.[/quote]

OK but you are wrong about what the bad public policy is.

Bethesda could add thousands of housing units within walking distance of the Metro station (and soon Purple Line) simply by selling the publicly owned parking garages and having them torn down and replaced with housing.  The county would make money on this transaction up front and over the long term by shedding money losing parking garages and adding tax generating properties.

WMATA would get higher ridership and Bethesda would get more residents, many of whom would not own cars and would be able to walk for many more of their trips.  And the county could lower the price of the garages below market value in exchange for a variety of housing types and prices.

What you are advocating for does not just not reduce emissions it also doesn't address community needs or reduce inequality.  And it really doesn't do anything about the what you are actually complaining about which is the NIMBYism of residents who live close to downtown Bethesda.

Again one reason the buses are not reliable is because not enough people are using them - but current policy and the choices that follow from that policy (your choices among them) are the problem.

Upzoning near the Bethesda Metro and eliminating subsidized parking is how the things you claim to care about get resolved - not facilitating more driving by opening streets[/quote]

You’re missing the fact that there isn’t sufficient basic infrastructure to support all these new housing units.  The elementary schools that would receive the kids in these new housing units are already way over capacity and traffic has already crawled to a standstill.  Bethesda needs to upgrade its school and transportation infrastructure before adding more housing near Metro. [/quote]

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