Survey Results: Parking problems hit home

FixItPhilly Survey

In October 2009, a survey was posted on this website and e-mailed to subscribers asking for their input on how the Zoning Code Commission should handle the important issue of parking. Responses are posted below.

I.     When asked what the most important parking problems are in the neighborhood where you live, those surveyed stated that their biggest concern was about design – how parking lots and garages look and how they fit into the neighborhood context. Illegal parking ranked second and an overall lack of parking was third.

1. Parking lots and garages are unattractive or reduce neighborhood character: 34.2%
2. Illegal parking is common (double parking, blocking sidewalks/driveways): 28.5%
3. Not enough parking for residents or workers/visitors: both 25.7%

Other problems noted by respondents include the following comments:

Invasion of ugly front garages that take away public on-street parking spaces
Street parking is sometimes difficult 9-5, but the retail surface lots are ugly
Valets use on street parking, should use garages
Parking by nonresident commuters
Developers arrogantly plan for “no parking required” for new student housing
No parking near public transit
Public parking is too far
Length of parking time, parking hours, and days apply vary from block to block
Parking during snow
Abandoned cars taking up spaces – 30 days to remove the cars

II.     Nearly 75 percent of respondents work in Center City and described circling for parking as the biggest problem. Tied for second are illegal parking and how parking lots and garages fit into the streetscape.

1. Circling for parking is common: 36%
2. Illegal parking is common (double parking, blocking sidewalks/driveways): 24%
3. Parking lots and garages are unattractive or reduce neighborhood character: 24%

Other problems noted by respondents include the following comments:

TOO EXPENSIVE!
Parking regulations encourage commuters instead of visitors.
One hour parking is not enough for visitors.
Length of parking time, parking hours, and days apply vary from block to block.

Short-term parking costs way too much; 90 minutes costs as much as all day.
Parking management could be better (better signage, etc).
There are no good affordable short-term (3-4 hrs) parking options in garages.
Parking place size varies from district to district and are often too big
Ground level parking lots have no tree cover – heat traps!

III.     Respondents to the parking survey favored the ZCC taking action to amend the city’s zoning regulations to address the issue of parking in neighborhoods. Respondents overwhelmingly supported measures that encourage walking, bicycling, and the use of public transit. They also want less surface parking lots and more opportunities to share parking and cars.

1. Improve sidewalks and crosswalks to encourage more people to walk: 74.2%
2. Provide more bicycle lanes/parking to give people an alternative to car use: 68.5%
3. Improve access to public transit to give people and alternative to driving: 65.7%
4. Limit number of new surface parking lots: 54.2%
5. Provide incentives for businesses and residents to share parking: 51.4%
6. Require lots/garages to reserve spaces for shared car services, i.e. Zipcar and PhillyCarShare: 48.5%

Other suggestions noted by respondents include the following comments:

Allow resident only reserved parking.

Reduce the price; make it more attractive for the city.

More consistent regulations.

Update standards for ground level parking lots for trees, green.

Fix the streets so cars can drive, add loading zones so trucks don’t block street.

Eliminate lane-parking for religious institutions on weekends.

Bicycle lanes add to traffic. Where are cabs supposed to pull over???

IV.     Eighty percent of survey respondents think zoning should prohibit garages that front on streets in new residential construction. Respondents overwhelmingly prefer parking to be located off alleys to preserve neighborhood character and want to limit the number of driveways crossing sidewalks. About 66% want maximum parking requirements and 46% want parking requirements based upon the availability of public transit and on-street spaces.

1. Prohibit homes from garages that front on streets and require rear alley or courtyard access parking, so that driveways do not reduce the number of on-street spaces: 80%
2. Limit curb cuts for access to apartments and condominium parking to reduce sidewalk crossings and maintain the streetscape: 77.1%
3. Limit the number of parking spaces required for apartments and condominiums built in high density neighborhoods: 65.7%
4. Require parking minimums for apartments and condominiums to be based on an analysis of available on-street and residential permit parking and access to public transit: 45.7%

Other suggestions noted by respondents include the following comments:

Create parking for student housing at a ratio of 1 space for every 3 units.

Parking minimums should be tied to public transit access but not to on-street parking.

No reason to have high parking requirements, community and market will demand it.

Improve public transit to remove the need for cars in the city.

Shared community parking lots.

V.     Eighty percent of those surveyed about parking in new commercial construction want new zoning to provide incentives for shared parking arrangements and 68.5 percent want more bicycle parking. Requirements for new garages to be built underground or wrapped with other uses ranked as the third best solution and requirements for new parking lots to be hidden behind the building or landscaped ranked fourth.

1. Provide incentives for new businesses and institutions to share parking: 80%
2. Require businesses to provide bicycle parking: 68.5%
3. Require new garages to be below ground or built with stores and other uses at the street level: 65.7%
4. Require new parking lots to be hidden behind the building or landscaped to make them less visible: 62.8%

Other suggestions noted by respondents include the following comments:

Limit curb cuts to commercial parking.

Parking in Center City is a key economic development problem – it is too expensive to park to shop and got to restaurants. We go to malls when we would rather go downtown. Street level parking lots are ugly and unsafe for pedestrians and should be eliminated. They should be underground or above street level with shops in front.

If you improve public transportation and limit available parking, you will reduce the perceived need of having your car parked in the city. The bones are here – don’t screw up the city streetscape by allowing for more parking or garages on the street – require below grade parking.

Bike lanes add to traffic. Where are cabs supposed to pull over? How are you supposed to get around a garbage truck? If someone is trying to park, everyone is stopped in their tracks.

Parking is too cheap. Improve the transit system.