Benefits of on-street parking

One of the topics I have taken a particular interest in is the correlation between a successful Main Street and the availability of parking and flexible parking ordinances. All too often, downtown communities have off-street parking requirements that are so inflexible that they fail to adequately account for the availability of on-street parking. The end result is businesses don't locate to Main Street.

An article by the New Smart Growth Network points out some of the benefits of off-street parking. It notes that shoppers actually prefer on-street parking to off-street lots and garages. It also noted that on-street parking has a measurable affect on lowering speeds, thus resulting in less fatalities and accidents. This is definitely an article that is worth reviewing.