Post by Jeremy Cogan, AICP

I’m deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Donald Shoup this evening. I had the brief but eye-opening and inspiring experience of studying under him at UCLA from 2008 to 2010, and the lessons I learned from him continue to shape the way I think about planning and the built environment to this day. It was incredibly memorable and entertaining how he connected economics, land use policy, and comedy in a single sentance. Like his remark that when it comes to parking, rational people quickly become emotional, and staunch conservatives turn into ardent communists. Or perhaps my personal favorite, which he dropped on the first day of class: we all have a personal stake in these issues, given the likelihood that many of us may have been conceived in a parking space. Many of you in my professional network have tremendous influence on the development of communities, particularly in the design and implementation of public school facilities. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor—pick up a copy of The High Cost of Free Parking and take a hard look at how we manage land resources. There is so much we could be doing better. Rest in peace, Professor Shoup. Your impact on urban planning and transportation policy will continue to influence generations to come. I’ll be thinking of you each time I add 15 minutes to the meter. #transportation #parking #UCLA #planning #thehighcostoffreeparking