Evening star., 1928-05-06
BY ]. A. FOX.


The parking problem is sounding the
kne1 of Main street as a center Of COM
mercial activity, and unless Main street
gets relief
But no one seems to know lust what
may be the answer in this contingency,
nor Is any one certain Just what form
this relief should take. The only thing
that is certain Is that somewhere out
Of the maze created by the increased
use Of motor vehicles, plus the inelas-
ITCHY OF highways, remedy must be
developed as safeguard to established
trade, already suffering. and this holds
good, not only for the Main streets OF
the han1lets throughout this country,
but also for those of the great metro
politan centers Various expedients are
being resorted to, but until now no town
or city is stepping boldly forth and an
nouncing to all and sundry that the
perfect solution has been uncovered;
that Is, a solution that is all-embracing
In the main it's case Of trying out one
thing or another to meet certain set
conditions. hoping for the best for the
overburdened with optimism as to the
outlook.
Results Of Investigation.
This just about sums up the resul;
| Of lengthy study conducted through
the civic development department oi
| the Chamber of Commerce Of the
| United States, the findings of which
now are being made public in report
| by John Ihlder former manager Of the
| department. who undertook the survey
| in an effort to meet one of the most
| frequent questions propounded to the
| chamber by its members throughout
| the country-which is. What, in gen.
eral. are municipalities doing to meet
| the parking problem?"
The question of course is not always
| worded the same but the tenor is un-
| changing, and the number of queries
leads to the unacceptable belief thai
/ where and how TO park is furnishing
/ the country with topic Of converse
| ton that almost. II not quite. Is getting
/ an even break with the various ranli.
/ fications of prohibition
| II has reached the point where books
are being written about it. and one OF
| these, under the title Where Shal
They Park?" somehow or other seems
to convey plaintively the hopelessness
under existing conditions, Of the whole
situation.
Chambers Report Quoted.
More to the point. however. is the fia
out assertion made in the chambers re.
| port:
No existing city can provide parking
| space in downtown streets for a quartel
| of its daytime population" That seem
to allow little leeway for speculation a.
| to what may be done
Further. to put the question in a still
more radical light. is a suggestion tina
/ in future it may become abSolutel,
| necessary for cities to be zoned entirel,
| with regard to traffic needs-that Is
/ so far as the business areas are con
/ cerned; that the paramount idea o
/ civic layout will be TO permit two car
| to stand where only one held fortf
/ before.
/ The picture which the chamber re.
/ port reflects is q composite of the ex
/ periences of place after place, all crop
/ ing toward the same possible gieam O
light; OF studies made by other cIvi
/ authorities: as matter of fact. 1t
/ drawn from every conceivable source o
/ information touching on the subjec
/ in an effort to be helpful
Small Towns an Example
That 1t is not overdrawn-wen. ius
/ think back on any small town who's
/ layout Is faniliar-one where the mair
/ highway is marked by the courthouse
/ a statue of one sort or another: church
/ or two at the extreme ends fiankinS
/ the nice" homes: business district
/ down in the center Of the whole, anc
then try to imagine trafic trouble
there. Seems impossible. but along this
very line the report declares that "even
small towns whose merchants once
demanded that State trafic routes
should run straight through Main
street, now having seen the tourist
stream wash the shopping parker away
are demanding bypass routes" and
this probably represents the most ele-
mentary phase OF the entire problem
for bypass routes" are not available
for the mere asking where Main street
has reached the eminence Of q Broad.
way.
In presenting It's study the chamber
offers some general suggestions. but IL
saws frankly that no attempt will be
made TO give definite instructions. uni
verSally applicable. because there are
no such instructions: each municipality
II emphasizes, must conform its regulA.
tons 10 its own particular needs It is
pointed out. too. that Ii is regulation
that Is neceSSary-that restrictions have
proved inadequate 10 cope with the
amazing proportions to which the use