City Council OKs plan for a more walkable Birmingham 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Today Birmingham’s City Council voted to approve the Right Size Parking Initiative and amendments to eliminate outdated mandatory parking minimums, increase bicycle parking, and encourage large developments to incentivize alternative transportation. All but one of the council members at today’s meeting voted to approve the initiative.   

This initiative has the potential to improve Birmingham’s air quality, reduce flooding, and create more opportunities for small businesses. Parking currently takes up about 26% of the available land in downtown Birmingham. Excess parking also creates heat islands, increases impermeable surfaces that cause flooding after rain, and increases air pollution by encouraging car transportation. Transportation accounts for the largest portion (29%) of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions  

Businesses often have no choice but to pass the cost of building excess parking lots down to consumers. In parts of the city of Birmingham up to 50% of residents don’t own a car and are forced to subsidize the cost of building unnecessary parking lots. Excess parking lots force urban sprawl, creating less opportunities for businesses and public transportation. Birmingham residents, business owners, city planners, and environmental groups spoke at today’s council meeting supporting the initiative.  

In response, SELC associate attorney and Birmingham resident Chris Bertrand released the following statement:  

“Thanks to the City Council’s bold leadership, we have a historic opportunity to make Birmingham safer and more prosperous for all citizens, not just those who own cars. This is a win for residents, businesses, and the environment. By eliminating this outdated law, we can turn acres of unused parking lots into businesses and create a downtown that puts people first, not cars.”