Page One

Not parking 

Editor: 

A letter from Roger Marks on April 2 called attention to construction that has begun at the corner of Virginia Avenue and Oxford Street. He mistakenly assumed that this will be a UC parking lot. In fact the work being done is a project by EBMUD to build a pumping station at that corner. This is a project that has been publicized and has had community input over the past two years. Anyone with questions about the EBMUD construction should contact Gretchen Grover, EBMUD Community Affairs, at 287-2053. Mr. Marks also states in his letter that UC plans to raze a research garden on the west side of that block. That is also not true. It is unfortunate that Mr. Marks did not call the campus to check his facts before sending in his letter. For information on campus construction projects and facilities plans, please call 643-4793 or visit the UC Berkeley Capital Projects web site at www.cp.berkeley.edu. 

Irene Hegarty 

UC Community Relations 

More parking, more congestion 

Editor: 

According to the Downtown Business Association letter by Deborah Badhia (4/3), the Transportation Demand Management study “focuses on transit, hence the name.”To me, it focused on transportation, hence its name; and there was definitely more in it about parking than about transit.  

More downtown parking would relieve congestion only if it got more cars off the road. The only way that can happen is if the number of people driving about looking for parking is reduced because people find their parking quickly. Otherwise, more parking attracts more cars, and cars are what make congestion. 

If we who live, shop and work in Berkeley are serious about reducing congestion and its attendant pollution, we have to agree to have fewer cars on the roads. The DBA is convinced that customers come by car, so “transportation” means parking, not bus stops or bike racks. 

The Badhia letter speaks of “..those who cannot take transit..” Who “cannot” take transit? Not disabled people; they ride buses. Not UC students; they have a class pass. Not poor people, for sure. I think the people who “cannot” take transit are the ones we see in long lines of cars on Shattuck, University, College and Telegraph, all alone in their big vehicles. 

The TDM report indicated that a small increase in “mode shifting” (more bus and bike, less single-occupant car) would cover the likely increase in parking needs. A substantial mode shift would eliminate much of the present need for parking. 

Downtown parking should not be reserved for commuters, but for visitors and shoppers.  

Visitors are temporary, and may come from some distance, so they “cannot” use transit. The same may be true of shoppers who come from outside Berkeley. But Berkeley residents should be able to use transit. Shoppers need a way to get purchases home. A delivery service would take care of a that – how about using Pedal Express? 

I think the claim that most people “cannot” use transit is a feeble excuse for not doing what we should to cut back on congestion. 

The end result would give us all a much more pleasant and healthful life-style.  

Steve Geller 

Berkeley 

Community Relations, UC Berkeley