Parkade joins the Parking Reform Network as a Champion Sponsor

At Parkade, we believe parking in the United States leaves a lot to be desired — and we’re on a mission to fix it.

Too much land is dedicated to car storage. Too many buildings are required to overbuild parking that sits unused. Too often, the cost of all that concrete gets quietly passed on to renters, whether they own a car or not. And most trips Americans take, they’re essentially forced to drive, because we’ve built so much concrete between our buildings that driving is the only choice that makes sense.

That's why we're proud to announce that Parkade has become a Champion Sponsor of the Parking Reform Network.

What is the Parking Reform Network?

The Parking Reform Network (PRN) is a nonprofit that educates the public about the impact of parking policy on climate change, equity, housing, and traffic. Through research, coalition-building, and direct advocacy, PRN accelerates the adoption of critical parking reforms across the country.

The scale of the problem is hard to overstate. 

There are, conservatively, at least three parking spaces for every one of the 260+ million registered vehicles in the US — and in some communities, more than 19 spaces per household. A single structured stall costs $20,000–$60,000 to build, and those costs aren’t just eaten by developers. Conventional parking minimums can increase the rent or mortgage required for a home by $200–$500 per month, whether or not the resident ever parks a car there.

Where Parkade fits in

Parkade was built on a simple idea: cities shouldn't have to keep building more parking infrastructure to compensate for poor management of what already exists. Our software helps apartment communities better manage the spaces they already have, and we envision a future with more green space and less pavement dedicated to underutilized lots.

We've written before about the hidden costs of free parking and what happens when parking is bundled into rent. The short version: it distorts demand, inflates rents, discourages sustainable transportation, and makes housing less affordable. PRN has been making this case at the policy level for years, and we're glad to support that work.

What this partnership means

As a Champion Sponsor, Parkade will donate a small portion of our revenue to PRN each quarter to help the organization grow and spread awareness of the importance of parking reform.

Every time a property manager unbundles parking from rent, stops giving away parking for free, or eliminates a waiting list without adding a single new stall — that's parking reform in action. PRN is driving the same shift at the policy level, and our two missions reinforce each other.

The more parking spots that Parkade is helping to manage, price, enforce and modernize, the more resources PRN gets to fulfill its mission. 

Want to get involved?

We’re so glad! Here are the steps you can take to get involved:

• Watch The High Cost of Free Parking, a mini-documentary by Vox
• Join the Parking Reform Network as a member or donor
• Advocate for parking reform with your local elected officials
• Read Paved Paradise by journalist and PRN member Henry Grabar, which even features Parkade’s founding story. 

And last but not least: If you know of, own, or manage a building that could use smarter parking management, reach out today!

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