The latest genius idea is to charge people to park in Balboa Park. Let’s ruin all the things.
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🚗 PAID PARKING
THE REAL MATH
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(READ THIS BEFORE
BELIEVING THE TALKING POINT)
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START HERE:
~ 400,000 CARS
VISIT THE PARK / YEAR
PARKING FEE = $10
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WHAT THEY SAY:
400,000 × $10
= $4,000,000
“PARKING MAKES MONEY”
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WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS:
LESS PEOPLE COME.
EVEN A 15% DROP =
400,000 CARS
- 60,000 CARS
= 340,000 CARS
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THOSE 60,000 CARS
NEVER PAID.
60,000 × $10
= $600,000 LOST
(CIRCLE THIS)
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FEWER CARS =
FEWER PEOPLE INSIDE
MUSEUMS
CAFES
GIFT SHOPS
120,000 FEWER VISITORS
× $18 AVERAGE SPEND
= $2,160,000 LOST
(DOUBLE UNDERLINE)
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PARKING ISN’T FREE:
ENFORCEMENT
PAYMENT SYSTEMS
CARD FEES
STAFF
≈ $955,000
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ADD IT UP:
$3,400,000 PARKING IN
- 600,000 LOST CARS
- 2,160,000 LOST SPENDING
- 955,000 NEW COSTS
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= -$320,000
THIS POLICY
LOSES MONEY
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BOTTOM LINE:
CHARGING FOR PARKING
DOESN’T JUST
COLLECT MONEY
IT CHANGES BEHAVIOR
ANY MATH THAT
IGNORES THE PEOPLE
WHO STOP COMING
IS BROKEN
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ONE QUESTION:
“DID THEY COUNT
THE VISITORS
WHO NEVER SHOWED UP?”