Why we need to think twice about adding more downtown parking...

 

I know a lot of people in Kamloops think downtown parking is a problem.

I've even characterized it as a problem from time to time. I've called it a good problem, a sign of a healthy downtown, but a problem nonetheless. 

So why do I think we need to think very carefully about adding new parking downtown?

My answer to this question centres around two concerns really. One is climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The most impactful measures we can take to reduce our personal greenhouse gas emissions is to drive less. Yes, electric cars are more and more viable and available. But, I believe we also need to think carefully about where we can find good alternatives to driving for transportation. It is so culturally ingrained in us to get in our cars. It important we think twice about this. It can be really helpful for our environment and our climate.

The second is that there is actually right now a surplus of parking spots downtown, even at the busiest times. This was confirmed by parking spot counts conducted recently in downtown Kamloops. Yes, these spots involve some walking sometimes. I wonder if people would really mind walking if they knew this was saving community money (to build more spots), helping downtown vibrancy (parking spots could be converted into pedestrian plazas, for example), and improving their own health.

I fully realize this is a difficult conversation potentially but it's an important one. I look forward to developing my own thoughts further and with engaging with lots of people on parking and transportation.  

 

Comments

[Roger Downie]

Arjun I have thoughts on this:
1: remove the parking meters and let our home grown entrepreneurs attract more downtown traffic,
2: create large fields of solar panels on unused city land to channel green energy to the city grid (with federal & provinial government financial support) Sell any surplus energy to Hydro,
3: support electric cars with more energy charging stations in high traffic corridors and parking lots,
4: IF more downtown parking is needed due to revitalization perhaps new building development would include specialty retail & living on the 1st & 2nd levels with a minimum of three parking levels on top. Rezoning for building heights likely.

Hypothetically an entire block on Seymour could be redeveloped with this concept as well as accommodate increased traffic to the downtown core. When the performing arts centre gets the green light there will be greater interest in reasoning to accommodate more multi-level investment development with both a retail/commercial retail/commercial/parking component. Parking on top of new street level buildings accomodating specialty shops and restaurants could work.