Henry Grabar

And in the case of basically the last century of American planning, we've learned that free parking for everyone all the time is a recipe for traffic congestion, high housing costs, ugly architecture, dangerous streets, and ultimately a place that's less accessible, not more accessible.

And in the case of basically the last century of American planning, we've learned that free parking for everyone all the time is a recipe for traffic congestion, high housing costs, ugly architecture, dangerous streets, and ultimately a place that's less accessible, not more accessible.

And in the case of basically the last century of American planning, we've learned that free parking for everyone all the time is a recipe for traffic congestion, high housing costs, ugly architecture, dangerous streets, and ultimately a place that's less accessible, not more accessible.

Well, it would seem that there's going to have to be, for any of this to work, some sort of collective mind shift about this whole thing. Because I think people who drive cars believe that if they drive a car somewhere, they're entitled to a place to put it. Even if they have to pay for it, there should be a place to put it. Otherwise, they're not going to drive there.

Well, it would seem that there's going to have to be, for any of this to work, some sort of collective mind shift about this whole thing. Because I think people who drive cars believe that if they drive a car somewhere, they're entitled to a place to put it. Even if they have to pay for it, there should be a place to put it. Otherwise, they're not going to drive there.

Well, it would seem that there's going to have to be, for any of this to work, some sort of collective mind shift about this whole thing. Because I think people who drive cars believe that if they drive a car somewhere, they're entitled to a place to put it. Even if they have to pay for it, there should be a place to put it. Otherwise, they're not going to drive there.

And it's an entitlement almost. And to change that mindset seems like it's going to be hard.

And it's an entitlement almost. And to change that mindset seems like it's going to be hard.

And it's an entitlement almost. And to change that mindset seems like it's going to be hard.

I think one thing to drive home about parking is that it feels like it costs nothing because it's free for you most of the time. But building parking is actually really, really expensive. Like just building a parking lot can cost $5,000, $10,000 a space. And building a parking garage can cost $50,000 a space. And if it's underground, it can be up to $100,000 a space.

I think one thing to drive home about parking is that it feels like it costs nothing because it's free for you most of the time. But building parking is actually really, really expensive. Like just building a parking lot can cost $5,000, $10,000 a space. And building a parking garage can cost $50,000 a space. And if it's underground, it can be up to $100,000 a space.

I think one thing to drive home about parking is that it feels like it costs nothing because it's free for you most of the time. But building parking is actually really, really expensive. Like just building a parking lot can cost $5,000, $10,000 a space. And building a parking garage can cost $50,000 a space. And if it's underground, it can be up to $100,000 a space.

And so when we ask for more parking, we are folding in hidden and massive costs, right? that aren't paid for by drivers when they show up at the parking garage, but they're paid for by everybody else. If you rent an apartment in a building with a 50 space parking garage, the cost of building that garage is folded into your rent, whether you drive or not.

And so when we ask for more parking, we are folding in hidden and massive costs, right? that aren't paid for by drivers when they show up at the parking garage, but they're paid for by everybody else. If you rent an apartment in a building with a 50 space parking garage, the cost of building that garage is folded into your rent, whether you drive or not.

And so when we ask for more parking, we are folding in hidden and massive costs, right? that aren't paid for by drivers when they show up at the parking garage, but they're paid for by everybody else. If you rent an apartment in a building with a 50 space parking garage, the cost of building that garage is folded into your rent, whether you drive or not.

And I don't think that's fair. Well, after listening to you, I don't think I'm going to look at parking quite the same way again. I've been talking to Henry Gravar. He is a staff writer at Slate, and the name of his book is Paved Paradise, How Parking Explains the World. And there's a link to that book in the show notes. Appreciate it. Thanks, Henry. All right. Thanks a lot. Take care.

And I don't think that's fair. Well, after listening to you, I don't think I'm going to look at parking quite the same way again. I've been talking to Henry Gravar. He is a staff writer at Slate, and the name of his book is Paved Paradise, How Parking Explains the World. And there's a link to that book in the show notes. Appreciate it. Thanks, Henry. All right. Thanks a lot. Take care.

And I don't think that's fair. Well, after listening to you, I don't think I'm going to look at parking quite the same way again. I've been talking to Henry Gravar. He is a staff writer at Slate, and the name of his book is Paved Paradise, How Parking Explains the World. And there's a link to that book in the show notes. Appreciate it. Thanks, Henry. All right. Thanks a lot. Take care.

You have no doubt heard of microbes. Tiny little things. But what are they exactly? What do they do? Where do they come from? And how do they affect you? Well, it's actually a fascinating topic, and here to explain it is Jake Robinson. Jake is a microbial ecologist and author of the book Invisible Friends, How Microbes Shape Our Lives and the World Around Us. Hi, Jake.

You have no doubt heard of microbes. Tiny little things. But what are they exactly? What do they do? Where do they come from? And how do they affect you? Well, it's actually a fascinating topic, and here to explain it is Jake Robinson. Jake is a microbial ecologist and author of the book Invisible Friends, How Microbes Shape Our Lives and the World Around Us. Hi, Jake.