Car parking

The parking of automobiles is clearly a wasteful use of road space, but the alternativesproviding all off-street parkingis a wasteful use of other resources. A compromise is thus needed to improve the efficiency of road space without inflicting inordinate costs on society in terms of paying for off-street parking.
A few places should absolutely ban car parking, with sufficiently strong penalties to serve as true deterrents. These include busy streets, all footpaths, and all parks and playgrounds. Banning car parking on busy streets could allow for greater provision of space for bicycle lanes, rickshaws, and an efficient bus rapid transit system. Car parking on footpaths is an offensive deterrent to pedestrians and should never be tolerated, any more than would the stowing of other personal belongings (a bed, a table, a desk) on the footpath.
Minor streets could allow car parking within designated areas, with people around to collect fees based on time and space used. Sensitive areas that require free access and especially where children gather should ban parking altogether within a certain radius. This would include schools, and would have the effect of reducing traffic congestion, increasing safety, and serving as an inducement to travel to school by more efficient modes.