Donald Shoup
1938–2023
American urban economist who proved that free parking is not free: everyone pays for it, whether they drive or not.
Shoup calculated what each mandatory parking space costs: land, construction and maintenance that end up in the price of housing, of food and of almost everything else. Those without a car are subsidising those with one without knowing it.
His three proposals can be applied immediately: charge the right price for kerbside parking so a space is always free, return that revenue to the neighbourhood generating it, and abolish minimum parking requirements in new construction. Cities such as San Francisco have done exactly that.
On Donald Shoup in this archive
- Mobility
Electric Mobility: A Sustainable Solution for Urban Transport
Electric mobility, particularly the use of electric vehicles (EVs), has emerged as one of the most promising…
Donald Shoup 3 min read - Mobility
Parking Policies: Transforming Urban Mobility
Parking policies in cities have become increasingly important in contemporary urban planning, as they directly…
Donald Shoup 3 min read
