Why American Cities Have So Much Parking

One line typed into Columbus, Ohio's zoning code in 1923 quietly became the most expensive rule in American history. A hundred years later, you're still paying for it in your rent, your grocery bill, and your church's budget—without ever seeing the charge. The U.S. has roughly two billion parking spaces, nearly seven for every car on the road, and a seventh of Los Angeles County is devoted to standing cars. This is the story of how a drafting shortcut, copied city to city, built a country that paved itself—and the cities that finally read the receipt. ⏱ CHAPTERS: 00:00 - The Rule That Started It All 01:20 - Seven Spaces Per Car 02:40 - Preference or Mandate? 03:20 - How the Curb Crisis Began 05:20 - The Table Nobody Questioned 07:20 - The Cost of Cruising 10:00 - Hidden Costs, Diffused Harm 12:40 - What Happens When It's Repealed 20:40 - Reading the Fine Print #ParkingMinimums #UrbanPlanning #CarDependency #PavedParadise #AmericanCities #ZoningLaws