New meaning to "self park" and other creative parking solutions

Notwithstanding my dedication to building communities that reduce the need to drive, I am decidedly not anti-car.  I think the idea is to have a future where driving is a choice, not a constant necessity, for a productive and enjoyable life.  I'm lucky to live in a place where that's pretty much the case. 

But, let's face it, finding a parking space can be a hassle.  It takes the convenience out of the equation too many times.  Some people think that's a good thing, not entirely without basis.  

For the rest of us, fortunately, help is on the way.  I highly recommend the photo-article 15 Creative, Innovative & Hilarious Parking Solutions, which is just what the title says, on the WebUrbanist site.  Pictured here, for instance, is a 20-story automated parking garage at a Volkswagen facility in Germany.  You can take a tour if you like.  And, hey, it does reduce the parking footprint, not a bad thing.

Other fun finds in the article include another robotic garage in (of course) Dubai, an "eco-parking lot" in Ontario, someone who really, really shouldn't have parked where she did and, not to put too fine a point on it, some folks who showed a sense of humor as they passed on to the next life.  Enjoy.

Kaid Benfield writes (almost) daily about community, development, and the environment.  For more posts, see his blog's home page.