Endless Possibilities

I must admit, it seems a bit surreal that I have spent nearly three decades working in this illustrious industry. I think that qualifies me as a lifer. I have seen my share of changes in both parking and transportation. It’s been quite a journey—pun intended.

Living in Louisville, Kentucky, we have traditionally been very limited in our modes of transportation. The automobile, the bus, and the taxi have been the main modes to get around our great city. There has been talk of light rail, but I always felt like that was far-fetched. Like most cities, we have recently seen the emergence of bikes, trolleys, scooters, and my personal favorite mode—walking. Over the last decade, we have witnessed the growth of ride sharing, companies that, via websites and mobile apps, match passengers with drivers for hire more formally known as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). The addition of Uber and Lyft in our cities has been life-changing for many, including me.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that the most popular mode of transportation for commuting in the United States for 2023, according to statista.com, remains the automobile with no close second place. Followed by public transportation, personal bikes, and ride sharing respectfully, the resounding preference is still to drive yourself. This obviously differs drastically depending on the geographic region and country; nevertheless, while transportation has evolved tremendously, it seems that nothing outweighs the freedom, independence, and tranquility of a personal automobile.

Perhaps the most noteworthy change in the automobile over the last decade is driven by the exponential growth in electrical vehicles (EVs), which has more than tripled over the last three years. While adoption of EVs grew from 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022 according to International Energy Agency, an even larger growth in electrical vehicles was anticipated. This growth did not hit projections due to a myriad of reasons, ranging from the limitation of parts to residual effects of COVID. Projections still call for the growth of electrical vehicles to surge in 2024. The sustainable value is undeniable, and the parking industry had been wisely positioning for this growth. Car manufacturers are navigating for growth, and the financial incentives and environmental implications have been proven. EVs are continuing to evolve in options, luxury, size, and sleekness. EVs are likely to be a desirable mode for transporting in an automobile for years to come.

Municipalities have ridden the wave of EV implementation. I can distinctly remember a Metro Council meeting where I was asked when our city was moving to having all contractors utilize “those” electrical vehicles, to ensure our city was moving toward sustainability. We had enforcement officers riding segways, motor scooters, and bicycles to issue citations, all to be more sustainable. Due to liability concerns, all those modes disappeared over time, and we returned the automobiles, now EVs. I’m sure this is true for most municipalities and private entities.

What is next? As technology continues to advance, we are on the precipice of short distance air transport. More and more cities will utilize air taxis. I look forward to the day when transportation mirrors one of my favorite cartoons growing up, The Jetsons. I believe we are not far off from this becoming our reality. After all, New York City has already seen their first-ever electric air taxi transporting from JFK Airport to Manhattan. While to some this may seem very far-fetched—like a pipe dream—I am convinced that this is right around the corner for many cities. We would expect to see this technology in more heavily populated areas first; it may never reach rural areas.

Moving from one location to another has endless possibilities. After all, who would have ever believed that people could go to the moon by day and return safely to their home by night? As in the past, I think it is even more imperative for our profession to stay on the cutting edge of technological advances, how they can enhance mobility and parking, and how it can improve the day-to-day lives of people that are simply trying to commute from one destination to the other safely and efficiently.

I’m here for it—today, tomorrow, and in the decades to come. ◆