Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16
CCORDING to present indi-
I cations the time is rapidly

~ cablOnS the time is rapidly
~ approaching when all
A n night parking will be pro-
hibited on the streets of Wash
ington.
The National Capital is one OF
the few cities of similar size that
still allows its thoroughfareS to
be used as public garages. Such
practice is banned in the Hoover
traffic code and agitation has been
raised here for regulation that
would clear the streets at night
Would Relieve Congestion.
The effect of such a regulation
would be far reaching in it's bene-
fits. First of all it would relieve
congestion, thus being more or
less of safety measure. Secondly
the regulation would give men,
berS of the Fire Department
greater facility in fighting fires at
night, especially around apartment
houses. Lastly the regulation
would aid materially in the
identifying of the city.
It is understood that the traffic
officials are in favor of such a re-
Striction. They are of the opinion,
however, that sufficient time be
given before the regulation be
made effective, because of the
present garage shortage. Because
of the free use of the streets in
Washington a garage shortage
does exist, it being estimated that
garages needed. ReZoning will
IN al h 1IIt1 liy1rr
or more garages.
National Review Is Cited.
Along this line comes an inter-
eSting review of the situation
from the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce of New
York, which is as fellows:
Attacking present-day garap ?
and zoning laws as obsolete a. i
looking to motor terminals as the
solution of the parking problem,
Paul G. Hoffman outlines in the
current Street Traffic Bulletin of
the National Automobile Chamber
OF Commerce program for NUM-
cipal action. Mr. Hoffman is a
member of the street traffic COM
mittee of the automobile organi-
Saticn.
Every one talks of the parking
problem as though it were perma-
nent and inSurmountable," says
Mr.. Hoffman. THE problem is far
from inSuperable. It can be met
by intelligent action, first in reg
ulating parking so that the maxi
mum use can be secured from curb
parking; second, through the con-
struction OF parking lots or
garages.
Intelligent Curb Falls Short.
1.-THE unintelligent prohibition
OF parking merely results in de-
priving the public of what ap-
pears to them a necessity and a
right. Reduced to its ultimate
abSurdity. thorough nc-parking
policy would compel a man to
stay continuously in his motor
until the end of time, once he had
gotten started. That, to be sure,
Is just what happens in the bust
ness centerS of the city under
present circumstances.
Regulation should, of course,
have es its objective the maxi
mum use of the existing curb
space for the benefit of the citi-
zens of the city as a whole and
the merchants OF the territory
under regulation in particular
But even the most intelligent
parking regulation falls far short
OF meeting the problem of term
1nal facilities for the motor car.
From now on more thought
must be given to supplying STOP
ping place for motor cars in shop
ping areas, In spite of all the
statistics which have been COM
piled, the merchants rightly main
tain that they want motor trade
and they want their stores &C
ceSSlble to the motoring public.
This fact has given rise to much
OF the opposition of merchants
against any and all forms of park
Ing prohibitions.
Needs Are Listed.
Parking regulations will never
be genuinely effective until ade-
Quate and economical terminal
facilities are available.
Several changes are necessary
bring about a satisfactory condi-
ton. These may be listed as:
81. Revise Zoning laws to per-
NIT garages where needed.
q. Revise garage building laws
70 remove unnecessary restric-
tions.
IS. Have the city plan commits
sion designate regions where
garages are needed.
a. Have merchants agree on
municipal or community support
for provision of enough garages at
proper terms.
I'm cities of less than 100 900
population there is usually little
need for drastic action, but I
would suggest that the small cities
Will find it commercially valuable
to provide parking lots for visitors
II there is a shortage of garage
space.
Let us examine these four
fundamentals which affect park
UH NJ