Free Parking

UCLA's Don Shoup has been studying the effects of mispriced parking for some years. He even has a book on the topic coming out. Administer prices and there is hell to pay. So it is with parking and Don has the evidence, convincingly reminding us how far and deep the problems reach -- including substantial cruising for underpriced parking, needlessly adding to traffic volumes.

Now Los Angeles' City leaders have hit on crackpot idea #995. "L.A. Rolls Out Campaign for Hybrids ... Many say they support the plan to allow free parking -- even if they wouldn't want the cars.... "

No, not unintended self-parody; just business as usual in City Hall.