He usually parks all day on the street. Pope said parking planners who did the study favored shoppers and residents because they have few other choices. Commuters, she said, can take the bus. In fact, she said, providing free parking only encourages commuters to drive to work alone at a time when the city is trying to encourage public transportation. She said the city is focusing on neighborhoods with good bus service, like Wallingford, and others that are supposed to be along the light rail line.
People have no incentive to take public transportation if they can park for free.
Pope emphasized the city will work with neighborhood groups to come up with their own balance of parking restrictions. She said neighborhoods may choose to leave some streets with unrestricted parking, particularly those farther away from the main strips. Pope said commuters can also pay for parking. The study found that parking lots in neighborhoods outside downtown are only about half-full. Nevertheless, Schneider said he'd have a hard time taking a bus from Kirkland to Wallingford.