The concept began in early upper middle class suburbs, likely the 1920s in places like F Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Neck, NY, some 20 miles from Manhattan. Urban-working Professionals would “motor” to the train station and commute to downtown on the railroad.
In World War Two, fuel rationing combined with the construction of military facilities and factories on the fringe of cities, such as Farmingdale NY, required the use of carpooling by war workers.
Even in the automobile friendly 1950s, city planners recognized that freeways and road widening could not solve the urban traffic problem - even the infamous General Motors admitted so in their half hour documentary “Let’s Go to Town”. Fringe parking outside of downtown were put into service, saving motorists downtown parking fees and the aggravation of stop and go driving.
Later, approaching and during the 1970s fuel crises, these park and rides were placed closer to residential areas, and dedicated bus lanes, such as those between DC and Alexandria VA, and on NYC’s Lincoln Tunnel Approach, were put into service.
A decline in carpooling came with the rise in dual-income households: husbands now took responsibility for a “honey do list”, domestic responsibilities such as grocery shopping and dry-cleaning pickup on the way home from work. This often required bringing one owns car to the office, instead of sharing the ride with a co-worker.
Revitalization and construction of new downtown sports stadiums in the 1990s required proactive traffic management. The lots and light rails that served office commuters by day could serve tourists in the evening.
Greyhound, the intercity bus company, realized that most riders had at least occasional access to a car for local trips. Bus stations moved out of downtowns to highway-adjacent park and rides. In states that have taken an interest in preserving regional bus access such as Colorado and Virginia, park and rides serve as the gateway to other regions of their respective states.
In addition to its service in preserving the walkability of downtown areas, the park-and-ride has also impacted the human experience at seaports, piers, and shipyards. In the United States, Boston Ship Repair in Boston, MA; and Deyten's in North Charleston, SC, deserve applause for avoiding the trend of turning port areas into vast asphalt parking lots. At these shipyards, mariners and shipfitters can easily walk to lunch outside the company gates. Reducing the need for a personal automobile increases quality of life. Long live the park and ride!
In World War Two, fuel rationing combined with the construction of military facilities and factories on the fringe of cities, such as Farmingdale NY, required the use of carpooling by war workers.
Even in the automobile friendly 1950s, city planners recognized that freeways and road widening could not solve the urban traffic problem - even the infamous General Motors admitted so in their half hour documentary “Let’s Go to Town”. Fringe parking outside of downtown were put into service, saving motorists downtown parking fees and the aggravation of stop and go driving.
Later, approaching and during the 1970s fuel crises, these park and rides were placed closer to residential areas, and dedicated bus lanes, such as those between DC and Alexandria VA, and on NYC’s Lincoln Tunnel Approach, were put into service.
A decline in carpooling came with the rise in dual-income households: husbands now took responsibility for a “honey do list”, domestic responsibilities such as grocery shopping and dry-cleaning pickup on the way home from work. This often required bringing one owns car to the office, instead of sharing the ride with a co-worker.
Revitalization and construction of new downtown sports stadiums in the 1990s required proactive traffic management. The lots and light rails that served office commuters by day could serve tourists in the evening.
Greyhound, the intercity bus company, realized that most riders had at least occasional access to a car for local trips. Bus stations moved out of downtowns to highway-adjacent park and rides. In states that have taken an interest in preserving regional bus access such as Colorado and Virginia, park and rides serve as the gateway to other regions of their respective states.
In addition to its service in preserving the walkability of downtown areas, the park-and-ride has also impacted the human experience at seaports, piers, and shipyards. In the United States, Boston Ship Repair in Boston, MA; and Deyten's in North Charleston, SC, deserve applause for avoiding the trend of turning port areas into vast asphalt parking lots. At these shipyards, mariners and shipfitters can easily walk to lunch outside the company gates. Reducing the need for a personal automobile increases quality of life. Long live the park and ride!
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