I think many people are imagining it wrong, though … it’s not like every house in Barcelona has a parking garage, especially in the old town, but also in newer dense neighborhoods. It’s just my estimate based on observation but I would say apartment buildings WITH a parking garage are the exception rather than the norm. If they have a garage, you still have to pay extra for the spot usually.

As a resident you can apply for resident street parking, which gives you preferential parking in the parking zones associated with your neighborhood. That’s not free, either, but you can park at a discount.

But typically renting an apartment doesn’t come with any guarantee that you’ll have guaranteed immediate access to parking close to your place … heck, if you’re living in the old town you might have trouble finding a place to put your bicycle …

EDIT: the article only mentions selling, not renting, so, not sure how that compares really …

I still view the Japanese model as ideal …

Parking on the roadside (outside the official parking spots, which you have to pay for) will usually get you a ticket or towed … free public roadside parking is mostly a thing of the past in most densely-populated places, really …

Since when is a parking spot a right? At least where I have lived so far, no apartment ever came with a guarantee for a parking spot, either you had to pay for a resident permit in your respective zone, or find a public spot, with free public parking (thankfully) becoming a rare occurrence these days … very few buildings I ever lived in had a garage …

I think this is one of the key quotes:

“It used to make sense to require parking in homes to avoid public spaces being filled. But this generates traffic because it encourages people to drive. Young people are also less likely to own a car. They may either opt for car sharing or renting.”

There’s practically no free public parking in Barcelona. It’s either for-pay or you have a resident permit.

I hope this frees up space, not just for sustainable transportation but also for more affordable housing, something Barcelona really needs …