Why pricing the curb is the key to a more vibrant, solvent, and accessible Old Town.
“Free” parking is never actually free—it’s just paid for by everyone, whether they drive or not. When we give away our most valuable downtown real estate for the temporary storage of private vehicles, we invite congestion, hide the true costs of car dependency, and unintentionally hurt local businesses. Paid parking isn’t a penalty; it’s a proven tool to manage demand, ensure turnover, and reinvest in the places we love.
Boost Local Business
Free street parking encourages all-day “squatting” by commuters and employees. A small meter fee ensures turnover, meaning paying customers can always find an open spot right outside their favorite shops instead of driving away in frustration.
End the Endless Circle
Ever circled the block five times looking for a spot? The goal of paid parking is the “85% Rule”—pricing the curb just enough so that there are always 1 to 2 open spots on every block. It guarantees access and dramatically reduces traffic congestion.
Stop Subsidizing Cars
Maintaining parking infrastructure is incredibly expensive. Right now, even non-drivers and those who take the MAX are subsidizing free car storage through their taxes and higher retail prices. Paid parking shifts that cost to the people actually using the space.
Dive Deeper: Resources & Next Steps
- Read Our Local Deep-Dive: Want to understand the full economic and social picture for our city? Read our comprehensive article: Paid Parking: Investing in a Stronger Downtown Fort Collins
- Watch & Learn: Need the quick version? Watch this excellent 6-minute explainer from Vox featuring Donald Shoup, breaking down how arbitrary parking rules are harming our cities around the country.
- Read the Book That Changes Everything: If you want to understand why parking is the invisible force shaping the modern American landscape, you must read Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar. It is eye-opening, infuriating, and surprisingly entertaining.
- The National Movement: Fort Collins isn’t alone in this. Discover how cities across the country are tearing up bad parking policy at the Parking Reform Network.