Parking and pedestrians: Balancing two key elements in downtown development

Two important transportation goals for most American downtowns are to provi de sufficient parking spaces to meet the demand of motorists and an attract ive pedestrian-friendly environment. Yet, when planned for separately, thes e two goals frequently contradict each other. This article discusses the ch aracteristics, Problems, and strategies associated with downtown pedestrian s and parking and advocates an integrated approach wherein the needs of bot h pedestrians and motorists are balanced. The keys to achieving this balanc e are (1) finding appropriate locations for off-street parking facilities t hat do not impede pedestrian flow, and (2) designing parking facilities tha t are sensitive to pedestrians and facilitate pedestrian connections.