Unparking to reclaim lots of space in cities

In Singapore, 5.6 million people can count on 1.3 million parking spaces. All that space if freed up offers many possibilities for remaking the cityscape.

Assuming each of Singapore's 1.3 million parking spaces occupies an average of 15 sq m, this would make up an aggregate of about 20 million sq m of parking area. If 86 per cent of this is no longer needed for parking, about 17 million sq m of space w
Assuming each of Singapore's 1.3 million parking spaces occupies an average of 15 sq m, this would make up an aggregate of about 20 million sq m of parking area. If 86 per cent of this is no longer needed for parking, about 17 million sq m of space would be freed, says the writer. ST FILE PHOTO
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Hidden in cities, vast swathes of land are waiting to be reclaimed. It is the space devoted to parking cars, which sit idle for 95 per cent of the day.

In Singapore, 5.6 million people can count on 1.3 million parking spaces - more than twice the number of cars. In the United States, parking spaces amount to an area as vast as its state of Connecticut or the Malaysian state of Terengganu, at just over 13,000 sq km.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 30, 2020, with the headline Unparking to reclaim lots of space in cities. Subscribe