100% agree. A parking space is very expensive real estate, given away for free, that we all subsidize. Use our money to make it safe to NOT be in a car!

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I couldn't agree more with James Kuszmaul's thoughtful article. Opening Castro Street up to vehicular parking so parking places could be restored is not a sensible solution to the problem. Finding a parking place on Castro has always been more a matter of wishful thinking than a rational plan. Creative alternate ideas make much more sense. Clever links could be created to be added to the web sites of local restaurants & businesses so that people could plan ahead. If Caltrain is going to be electrified, a closure will be necessary anyway so let's plan ahead!

Thank you James Kuszmaul! This piece absolutely nails the importance of these decisions, presenting a constructive and appealing alternative to the status quo. I have lived in places that more closely resemble Kusmaul's vision, and it was transformative. I would love to see Mountain View create that better future, starting immediately.

I have tried to ride my bike versus my son riding his car to downtown, and I can beat him every time. No racing necessary. The solution is easy; IMPROVE BIKE SAFETY. Recent studies show it's beneficial across society from economics to health.

Hear, hear.

Building new parking garages in 2021 is not only a waste of public funds, it's a form of climate change denial. There is no world in which we successfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions without reducing vehicle miles traveled.

California currently plans to ban the sale of gas cars by 2035, but that's 14 years away, and existing gas cars will still be on the road for years to come. And even with electric vehicles, the electricity has to come from somewhere, and moving 4000 pounds of car to move one or two humans is always going to be an inefficient use of energy.

Driving will always be an option available. But our city can be cleaner, quieter, safer, healthier, and more accessible if we have more options to walk, bike, scoot, or ride. And since car infrastructure is the most expensive kind of transit infrastructure, we'll actually save money on the deal.

Totally agree with James. Our city could be more forward thinking on how we handle parking versus prioritizing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and on seeking better ways to get folks in and out of our downtown area.

disagree / It is possible to keep parking number of spots the same, and improve bike and transit. The proposed plan does that in part - higher density (I wish they would aim for 7 stories with 2 below-grade equal to Palo Alto's Webster-Cowper recyclable-steel lot).
My family often walks to downtown (Library, City Hall, performance, restaurants) because it is 15 minutes away - AND WE PLANNED OUR HOME PURCHASES to support that lifestyle.

MAKE parking Fees represent the Cost To provide spots. These are not free to build. With a Council majority unwilling to Take THAT Step, woe is us, no progress!