ABSTRACT
Free curb parking is like rent control for cars. High demand for a limited supply of free curb spaces predictably leads to shortages, and to deal with this problem cities impose off-street parking requirements that increase the cost of housing. Buying time at the curb can be as convenient as any other of life's daily transactions, like buying a loaf of bread or a quart of milk. Traditional curb parking meters require drivers to carry exact change and to decide in advance how long they want to park. Aspen places one "pay-and-display" multispace parking meter in the middle of the block on each side of the street in the downtown district. Pay-by-space meters are another multispace technology that makes curb parking more convenient. The city paints a number on the sidewalk beside each curb space and installs signs directing parkers to the nearby meter.
