Parking is an essential part of modern-day transportation infrastructure, but it hasn’t always been that way. In fact, parking as we know it today is a relatively recent invention. Over time, the development of parking has been driven by a number of factors, including technological innovations, changes in urban planning, and economic considerations. In this blog post, we will explore the history of parking, from its earliest beginnings to the present day.
The early days of parking were characterized by a lack of structure and organization. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, cars were still a relatively new invention, and parking wasn’t yet a significant concern. Instead, people simply parked their cars wherever they could find space, often blocking sidewalks or taking up valuable street space. As car ownership became more widespread, cities began to take notice of the parking problem, and the search for solutions began.
One of the earliest attempts at organized parking was the invention of the parking meter in 1935. The first parking meters were installed in Oklahoma City in 1935, and they were an immediate success. Parking meters allowed cities to regulate parking more effectively, by charging drivers for the time they spent parked in a particular space. This revenue could then be used to pay for the construction and maintenance of parking facilities.
In the decades following the invention of the parking meter, parking continued to evolve. One notable innovation was the multilevel parking garage, which allowed for more efficient use of space. The first multilevel parking garage was built in Chicago in 1918, but it wasn’t until the 1950s and 60s that they became more widespread. Today, multilevel parking garages are a common sight in cities around the world.
The rise of the automobile also had a significant impact on urban planning. Prior to the widespread adoption of cars, cities were often designed around pedestrian traffic. With the rise of cars, however, city planners had to accommodate for vehicular traffic as well. This led to the development of wide, multi-lane streets, and the creation of parking lots and garages.
Despite these innovations, parking continues to be a contentious issue in many cities. As car ownership has continued to grow, the demand for parking has increased, leading to higher prices and increased competition for available spaces. In many cases, this has led to the development of expensive, high-tech parking structures, such as the fully automated parking garage in New York City, which can accommodate up to 200 cars in a single structure.
However, not everyone has access to these high-tech parking facilities, and for many people, finding a place to park remains a significant challenge. This is where services like spotKEEP come in. By allowing property owners to rent out their unused parking spaces,
spotKEEP provides an affordable alternative to traditional parking options, while also helping to reduce congestion and pollution in urban areas.
In conclusion, parking has come a long way since the early days of the automobile. From the invention of the parking meter to the rise of multilevel parking garages, parking has evolved to meet the changing needs of urban areas. However, the challenges of parking remain, and it is up to cities and private companies to continue innovating and finding new solutions to these challenges. By utilizing infrastructure that is already present, and by providing innovative solutions like spotKEEP, we can continue to improve the parking experience for everyone, while also reducing our impact on the environment.
