Pinthouse Pizza
Austin Supports Car Culture
RECEIVED Mon., June 28, 2010
Dear Editor,
As the graph [“City Announces 'Multimodal' Bond Package,” News, June 25] noted, even as BP oil spews into Gulf, the “multimodal” bond package only delivers 2.4% of revenue to mass transit.
Also, as your comment [“1915 David St.,” News, June 25] on a contested building permit noted, the city still requires builders to provide “sufficient parking” for residences. That forces the car-free to subsidize parking spaces they don’t use. Austin could emulate Portland, Ore., where builders are allowed to offer parking or not, just as any other amenity. Renters and buyers there can choose whether they want their dollars to go for parking spaces. Tokyo requires proof of access to parking before issuing a car license.
As long as Austin shovels money to road building and legislates in favor of autos, we will never develop alternatives. (At least not until oil runs out and we are caught with no way to move around.)
As the graph [“City Announces 'Multimodal' Bond Package,” News, June 25] noted, even as BP oil spews into Gulf, the “multimodal” bond package only delivers 2.4% of revenue to mass transit.
Also, as your comment [“1915 David St.,” News, June 25] on a contested building permit noted, the city still requires builders to provide “sufficient parking” for residences. That forces the car-free to subsidize parking spaces they don’t use. Austin could emulate Portland, Ore., where builders are allowed to offer parking or not, just as any other amenity. Renters and buyers there can choose whether they want their dollars to go for parking spaces. Tokyo requires proof of access to parking before issuing a car license.
As long as Austin shovels money to road building and legislates in favor of autos, we will never develop alternatives. (At least not until oil runs out and we are caught with no way to move around.)
Philip Russell