It is well known that the Bay Area fails to meet either the state or federal air quality standards. As a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Transportation Control Measure Task Force, I am aware that eliminating free parking is high on the region's list of priorities in our efforts to meet the requirements of the state and federal Clean Air Acts and clean up the Bay Area's air. One of the primary functions of the parks is, of course, environmental education. Eliminating free parking of all forms, together with an increase in transit access, is a great educational tool. The vast majority of park users would understand and support such a change, if well presented.
Free parking is an insult to all non-drivers.
Those who get to the parks via walking, bicycling, or buses get no such subsidy, although they deserve such a subsidy even more than those who drive. Over-crowded facilities, such as the Tilden Park Steam Train, would benefit from the institution of a parking charge, in order to avert the need for constructing more parking. Of course, this should be separate from the train ticket, so as not to force environmentally aware patrons to subsidize parking.