Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Parking

The “Elite Eight” of Parking Madness: Milwaukee vs. Columbia

So far, Texas is really dominating our Parking Madness tournament. The two Final Four spots awarded so far have gone to Lone Star heavyweights Dallas and Houston. We might have an all-Texas final.

But there are still two remaining spots in the Final Four of terrible downtown parking craters. One of those spots is going to go to either Milwaukee or Columbia, South Carolina -- today's Elite Eight match-up.

Let's refresh ourselves with the Milwaukee parking crater:

false

Submitted by reader Aaron from Milwaukee, this one is not a crater so much as a lunar landscape bereft of human life forms.

The area is between Milwaukee's Third Ward -- a rather hip area -- and the lakefront. Aaron tells us they occasionally hold summer festivals on part of this lot -- so a few times a year, at least, this place has people in it. One thing's for sure, though: parking lots so close to the waterfront are even sadder then regular parking lots.

Here's a wider view where you can see the parking/freeway complex divide the Third Ward from the lake:

false

Now, let's look at Columbia, South Carolina, which beat out Minneapolis in a squeaker in the first round:

false

This whole scene is adjacent to the South Carolina Statehouse, whose grounds you can see in the right bottom corner.

The most remarkable thing about this photo, in my opinion, is the almost total lack of cars.

Here's a wider view:

false

So, the only remaining question is, which one of these spaces deserves to be shamed in the Final Four?

[poll id="40"]

false

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Council Members Put Everything But Riders First at ‘Bus Oversight’ Hearing

The Council spent its last bus oversight hearing of its term asking the MTA and city to pull back on bus lane enforcement.

November 14, 2025

Community Board Defies Parents in Vote to Reopen Forest Park to Cars

The Parks Department appears to have given in to a vocal group of Queens drivers. Paging Mayor Mamdani!

November 14, 2025

Opinion: Daylighting Isn’t Anti-Driver — It’s Pro-Common Sense

Listen to a Republican: "The Department of Transportation's negative report on daylighting is like judging the effectiveness of lifeboats on the Titanic by studying the ones that never left the ship."

November 14, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: More Agenda Items Edition

Transportation Alternatives laid out, in 85 chunky bullet points, what the next major should do. Plus other news.

November 14, 2025

SHAMEFUL: Pro-Parking DOT ‘Forced’ Lawmakers To Scale Back Daylighting Bill, Says Queens Pol

A parking-first City Hall has thrown up road blocks against pedestrian safety.

November 13, 2025

House T&I Chair Vows ‘No Money for Bikes or Walking’ in Fed Transportation Bill

The outlook for active transportation won't be good if advocates don't stand up.

November 13, 2025
See all posts