Finding a parking spot is hard but just wait – it could get nearly impossible. In roughly 15 years, parking could be non-existent. According to the Boston Globe, Kent Larson, director of the City Science Initiative and the Changing Places group at the MIT Media Lab believes that is exactly the case. At a recent HUBweek panel, the Larson shared his theory that public parking will not be a thing in the future.
Larson believes that with bike-sharing systems like Hubway and ride sharing businesses like Uber, we will eventually give up cars completely. Other cities in the world like Oslo, Amsterdam, Helsinki are already embracing this concept.
What do you think? Will Southie give up its cars?
Could we also do a disappearing act with all of the dog poop that no one can be bothered to clean up? Thanks
Uber is very compelling. For less than the price of parking downtown, you can quickly and easily get a ride right to where you want to be. That said, it is not as effective for things like grocery shopping or kids sports/activities that require the ability to carry people and equipment to places near and far (think hockey). Cycling as a mode of transportation won’t ever be more than a niche here given the climate in the northeast, the aforementioned family transportation needs, and the inherent dangers of cycling in Boston. Sure, if you’re the typical smug 24 year old CEO of an incubator in Cambridge with no kids, bikes are great. Have a family, not so great. I won’t bother mentioning the T here.
In the near future driverless cars will pick you up and drive you to your destination! You will summon it with an app on your phone like Uber or Lyft. None of the problems associated with car ownership. How far into the future is the big question and what the cost will be is anyone’s guess.
The real disappearing act around here isn’t going to be parking in fifteen years. It will be the born and raised residents of South Boston. Our neighborhood is being transformed from a neighborhood that once was family oriented to a neighborhood that is (and will become) a kind of theme park.
What we are watching is a transition of generations who live here to people who are just passing through. A sort of permanent populace of transients.
Much of this is due to our proximity to downtown Boston. But the city government is also culpable in this situation as well. The city blesses developers and their plans, whether it fits or benefits a particular neighborhood in our community or not.
Before the middle of this century, this neighborhood will resemble Manhattan. I
Boston needs to improve the quality of its schools. Until that happens, the cycle of families in and out of the city will continue. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy fix. If it were, it would already be done.
As for cars, families with young children will need one for the foreseeable future. Installing a car seat is too much trouble to do every time you call a taxi, uber, etc. I know from experience.
Agreed. Due to the proximity to the business centers & lack of good schools, Southie will be a revolving door for young adults for decades to come. As time progresses, more & more Millennnnnnnials will fill the empty suburban homes left by the boomers to raise & educate their kids. The younger generation (whatever they’re called) will back fill the small, Luxury Southie condos & apts. If the MBTA gets their act together, people might get rid of a car, but the personal vehicle will be around for a long long time.
Everything happens slower than people predict. In 15 years the T will be operating to 2010 standards (Since we’re currently operating at around 1995) & congestion will be a bigger problem than it is now. MAYBE, people will give up their cars, but the fact of the matter is that people like the flexibility a car gives them. That MIT guy sounds like he’s talking more like 30 years in the future than 15.