Here’s an idea for better cities: Make owners of big SUVs & pickups pay more to park.
That's what Montreal now does -- and it's the first North American city to try it.
In Bloomberg CityLab, I explored a groundbreaking way to fight back against car bloat.
@davidzipper
Oh now there's a mayor who is using his brain!! I like this idea!
@davidzipper That's my mayor! Very proud of this initiative.
It's bananas to me that car bloat is happening in Montreal when you can very easily live a great life without even owning a car in the first place.
@davidzipper Not only for parking... should be a fee for entering/driving in cities.
Enormous vehicles used to be used by people who needed them. Electricians. Plumbers. Carpenters. Delivery truck drivers.
Suddenly rich people wanted to use huge vehicles to publicize their inner insecurities & paranoid beliefs.
Fears about becoming poor. Fears about thieves & car accidents. Fears about not being masculine.
Fears about the end of the world & fake fears about things like a zombie apocalypses (ie hidden fears about race wars). Fantasies about mountain trails.
@davidzipper should also require a different license to operate that has an annual practical retest requirement and a written motivation for ownership
@davidzipper
That is not possible in Germany. German politicians love SUVs
@davidzipper There are plenty of reasons to justify a larger vehicle, even if someone lives in a densely populated area. Charging more to park or drive into the city just penalizes the owners.
Given the outrageous growth, weight, and carbon footprint I'd prefer to see governments tax auto manufacturers based on vehicle weight. A stiff financial incentive to manufacture smaller and lighter weight vehicles makes more sense.
Thanks David! I enjoy reading CityLab.
@davidzipper I recently pointed out to someone whingeing about parking permits that £150 a year for the privilege of occupying 10 m2 of area in a city like London sounded like a bargain and he should rejoice at his good fortune. I’m not sure he was convinced. But at least he didn’t hit me.
Or prohibit companies from manufacturing SUV's, mechanics from servicing them, or ration petroleum so that it becomes impractical to own them. Limit petroleum use per capita to what a Prius uses if its owner drives 150 miles a week.
