Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-04
Parking Committee Finds 7
Per Cent Remain Long
Time.
LONGTIME PARKERS
ARE OFFICE WORKERS
DR.. Miller McClintock of Harvard
Conducts Extensive Study Of
Curb Situation.

While a majority of the vehicles
parked in Washington's downtown area
may be classified as short-time parkers,
requiring less than one-half hour, "the
longtime parkers, beginning stheir stay
in the period between and $50 am,
are composed primarily of workers,
rather than customers or patrons" the
automobile parking committee was in
formed today In a preliminary report
presented by its conSultant, Dr. Miller
McClintock, director Of the Erskine
bureau for traff1c research of Harvard
University.
Seven per cent of those parked found
a need for longtime parking, DR.. Nc
Clintock said, as a result of a survey
conducted in IS selected blocks in the
central business district. The trafic
expert compiled table on the basis of
his study, which considered 14,141 We
hicleS in the IS selected blocks, giving
these results:
Parked for one-half hour or less,
1852 cars; with 4,181 space hours used,
representing 591 per cent of the total
cars parked, and 24.S per cent of the
total space hours.
Cars parked from one-haR to one
ID
space hours and representing 1877 per
cent OF the total cars parked and IA
per cent OF the total space hours. Cars
parked from one hour to two hours
numbered 1,75S cars, utilizing 1850
space hours and representing 1874 per
cent Of the total cars parked and IT'S
OF the total space hours.
Cars parked from two hours to three
hours totaled 676, representing 1920
q - 81.
total cars parked and 1913 of the
total space hours.
Cars parked from 8 to 10 hours
numbered 988, representing 5,549 space
hours used, per cent of the total cars
parked and $50 per cent of the total
space hours.
In addition to the grand total of
14,l41 cars, there were, 1887 space
hours used.
Trouble Due to Length.
In his report, DR.. McClintock said in
part:
"A substantial part of the present
curb saturation Is undoubtedly due to
present practices with regard to the
length of time parked. A detailed
analysis of this factor was obtained
from q record Of as blocks of pri-
marily composed Of business occupancy,
previously described.
Within these blocks during the 10
hour day from am. until pm,
14,141 parked vehicles were checked.
The total number Of parking space
hours for the area and time was found
to be 1851. The manner n which
these cars used these spaces 49, time
basis affords q definite inoex as to
present efficiency Of parking use, and
likewise OF current parking require
mentS.
1T viii be noted that q majority OF
the vehicles parked may be classified
as short-time parkers. Their demands
for space require less than one-haf
hour. This use results in q high turn
over, and naturally makes possible the
use OF the space by much larger num-
Der OF persons during the business day.
The number requiring from 80 to 60
minutes Is considerable, but composed
only Is per cent of the total. The
number requiring from one to two
hours are still less numerous, but it
that requiring from two to three hours
consume space hours greatly diSpropor-
uonate to their actual numbers.
The class OF parkers requiring from
3 TO 10 hours deserves special con-
Stderation. That in one day, within rs
blocks, almost 1000 cars should have
been parked for Is great q length of
time Is indicative that a substantial
number OF citizens, indeed, Z per cent
longtime parking. Undoubtedly 1t is
need which should be satisfied, but
1t certainly is one that cannot be per-
m1tted to find expression in streets with
curb Saturation where every available
parking space Is required for useful
business activity.
Take Extra Space.
These 998 cars occupied spaces which
could have been used by 5,549 vehicles
parked for one hour or 1908 vehicles
parked for less than one-half hour,
which latter parking period is shown
to be adequate for the majority of users.
That per cent Of the parkers should
occupy 80 per cent of the space hours
available would be a mater of no con-
Germ If space were unlimited. Under
parking conditions where curbs are
saturated and almost one of every 20
cars Is forced to stand in doublel-ine
parking such q situation is intolerable,
In an effort to determine the prob
able character Of parkers in the 3-to-
10-hour class, an analysis was made of
the period during the day when the
parking OF each such car was initiated.
IL was discovered that IN the period be-
tween and $3.50 am, 525, or more
than 80 per cent Of the class, began
their parking. The single 30-minute
period ending at $50 o'clock contribut-
ed SIS ten-hour parkers, 81 nine-and-
one-half-hour, Is nine-hour, Is eight
and-one -half-ho and Is eight-hour
parkers. With most Of the Offices of the
central area opening at about 8 o'clock,
and the large volume retail establish
ments opening at 9:15 o'clock, and in
view Of the fact that the early morn
ing hours are known to be periods Of
light business, 1t would seem fair to
conclude that the longtime parkers,
their stay In the period be-
tween 8 and $50 am, are composed
primarily Of workers, rather than Gus
toners or patrons"
The committee is headed by Lieut.
Col. U. s. Grant, Sd, director Of the Of
nee Of public buildings and public
parks