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

Parking: Searching for the Good Life in the City

Streetfilms is proud to partner with ITDP to bring you this fun animation that's sort of a cross between those catchy Schoolhouse Rock shorts and the credit sequence for a 1960s-style Saul Bass film.

For too long cities tried to make parking a core feature of the urban fabric, only to discover that yielding to parking demand tears that fabric apart. Parking requirements for new buildings have quietly been changing the landscape, making walking and transit less viable while inducing more traffic. Chipping away at walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods has been a slow process that, over the years, turned the heart of American cities into parking craters and even mired some European cities in parking swamps.

Many cities around the world are now changing course by eliminating parking requirements while investing in walking, biking, and transit. Soon cities in the developing world will follow, providing many new lessons of their own.

Parking isn't the easiest topic to wrap your head around, but it is right at the core of the transportation problems facing most cities. We hope this film helps illuminate how to fix them.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Staten Islanders May Sue Over ‘Risky’ Rushed Return of Cars in Park

A truly outrageous land grab by drivers and self-style "safety" advocates is playing out in Staten Island.

May 1, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Lander With a Transit Plan Edition

The Comptroller wanted to talk safe streets and better transit. Go on... Plus other news.

May 1, 2025

New $160M Davis Center Has No Bike Access For Harlem Riders

The Davis Center debacle is one of a string of anti-bike actions by the Parks Department since the spring season began, even as cycling grows each year.

May 1, 2025

‘Everyone’s Favorite New Yorker’: Norman Brown Leaves MTA Board After Two Decades

The labor leader and transit advocate retired after more than 20 years as a non-voting union representative on the MTA board.

May 1, 2025

ALERT: GOP Moves to ‘Permanently’ Cut Reconnecting Communities Funding

The House Transportation Committee wants to slash funding for one of America's most critical equity-focused grant programs — unless advocates speak out and get them to reverse course.

April 30, 2025
See all posts