There’s no place to park there

By Bertie Brouhard

[Note: We at the Davisite hope to feature Bertie’s columns going forward with the permission of the author and the DE]

There? Where’s “there?” Are you driving to the Marina in San Francisco? Sutter Hospital in Sacramento? Yosemite Valley? South Shore at Lake Tahoe? 

Not just major attractions in big urban centers, but I hear the complaint about midtown Sacramento or Golden One and certainly for many places in our fine city of Davis. “There’s no place to park!” 

All I have are my observations which I capture visually as a street photographer and hopefully entertain you with words in this column. And I love automobiles having been born into, raised by and shaped in an exciting, vibrant car culture.

My dad cherished his Scotch-plaid-seated Chrysler, his yellow Buick Special Convertible with the red leather seats, his sporty white V-8 Studebaker Hawk and his grumbling Hemi Dodge Charger. In 1976, when my family of four left Cleveland for Colorado Springs in our new red Plymouth Volare station wagon, I was riding higher than ever.

We’ve since travelled in Chevy station wagons, a Dodge Caravan and several boring but practical sedans. Currently, I have a Mini Cooper and a Dodge Promaster RV. 

Now proudly 80, I recently passed the eye test and had my driver’s license renewed for five more years. I don’t intend to renew it again! 

The thrill, joy of driving is winding down. While I may be a good driver after 85, I see no need. During four years of the 10 I lived in San Francisco, having no car felt liberating. Gas, maintenance, insurance, worry about theft maybe and parking were not issues.

I learned BART, light rail and bus lines, rode Lyft and Uber and hitched rides with friends and colleagues in theirs. Knowing I was moving back to Davis, I thought a car was compulsory. I was probably wrong-headed. 

I smile remembering how not long ago I thought of our town as an island of forward thinking, “Pleasantville” perhaps with a very green, ecologically sound, bicycle-focused culture. Is “slow growth” still a goal? Green belts, bike lanes, with easy mass-transit thriving? The gates, moats, drawbridges, causeways, freeways, under- and overpasses, railroad tracks were then adequate.

Highway 113 has since provided additional routes to enter and exit our city. But the major ones remain unchanged: Richards, Mace, Hutchinson, Pole Line, Russell, Covell, Road 102 and F St. I’m not aware of any existing or future plans to widen current or add additional roads.

However, thousands of additional cars are coming. Most families on my street have two and often three or more vehicles per house. And the auto dealers along I-5 in Woodland and the ones along the I-80/50 corridor between Roseville/Folsom and into Fairfield have thousands to put in your driveway. More are coming: a tsunami of single-passenger automobiles. 

How does everyone easily, cheaply, rapidly move about Davis? Say you’re a family of four; two adult wage earners with two teenage kids. Getting to work, to school, to soccer practices, piano lessons, doctors, groceries, friends and all? I think currently it’s mostly by automobile. But for how long? 

It’s largely about your scarce, limited time. When do you want to be there? And what’s your mode, method, means of travel? Your automobile? 

Before 9 a.m. and between 3 and 7 p.m. on weekdays, our major roads are packed. Traveling east or west on Fifth/Russell, Eighth and Covell are tedious, and I-80 is largely at a standstill. Forget Richards to get into or out of Davis; and Anderson, F, Sycamore, 102, 113 and Mace are crawling. 

As for parking? You jest. Fuhgeddaboudit! 

Where do you buy groceries? You could have them all delivered. However, I rise and try to shop early. Both Safeways and Nuggets, Trader Joes. Grocery Outlet and the Food Coop are all parkable sometimes.

Sutter Hospital’s lots are full, as are most of the medical and dental office spots. Sadly, reasons to go downtown are few. But should you, I suggest an early-in-the-day visit. Once, not long ago, we thought of dining downtown on a Saturday night. We were in an automobile and having circled for a spot decided to go home. 

From the top of the Covell crossing over the railroad tracks marvel at the traffic back up during the morning and evening weekday work commutes. Stop atop the Davis Pelz Memorial Bridge at the south end of Pole Line to see the endless parking lot that is Interstate 80.

Leave TJ’s and walk around its back to the intersection of Sycamore and Russell or consider the 1917-constructed Richards Boulevard underpass —mass stagnation, as is Mace and Chiles, 113 at Russell, and most of downtown.

G Street is blocked off downtown and I feel for merchants at Davis Commons, our new Davis Collection, Marketplace, Anderson and Oaktree Plazas wishing for more parking. It’s not happening. 

I was recently at Holmes Jr. High at about 8:15 a.m. It’s close to my house and I was curious about all the cars dropping off their teenage kids. There were dozens. I asked a very busy “Kiran,” the crossing guard at L and Drexel, if he thought most coming to Holmes walked/rode a scooter or bike or were driven?

And he said, “Most all ride in a car and are dropped off and picked up.” Oh how parenting has changed. And why the chauffeur service? I’m stumped. 

Often, our library lot is full of cars and parking at Davis High is woefully insufficient spilling out onto the adjacent streets. 

I won’t know (aged out) and can only imagine Davis in 20 years. What’s your hope, desire, plan for getting around in our city? Will you be in your car? I hope you have a backup. 

Could you, your family unit give up, abandon, forget, not drive or ride in an automobile for say two weeks? I think it’s very doable. If walking, a scooter, moped, motorcycle or bicycle are not your bag and Uber and Lyft won’t work, let’s all consider trying, taking a ride on mass transit.

The big red buses of Unitrans and its British double-deckers go everywhere with handy stops and low (free for many; Medicare card holders for example) fares. The long term parking at SMF is now almost to I-5. The Yolobus (42A) will drop you off at your terminal for $2 and only a buck if you’re a senior.

Want to visit The Crocker, Old Town in Sacto, maybe travel to Rancho Cordova? Hop on the 42B and then Sacto’s light rail for your jaunt farther to north or east destinations. Yes, it’s maybe slower than your car. Maybe not. (The causeway often grinds to a halt.)

And definitely it’s cheaper and less stressful. Our Capitol Corridor stop is wonderful. Headed to Madrid, Tokyo or Sao Paulo out of SFO? Board Amtrak, ride it to Richmond and then relax on BART to the SFO shuttle train. You’ll be amazed and stress free. 

Recently I have a new mode of transportation. Yes. A brisk 2- to 4-mile walk is best but my new, electric semi-recumbent tricycle is handy, dependable and has at least a 60-mile range between charges. It touts a top speed of 20 mph and is so easy to park. I’ve ridden it all over Davis. 

You’re invited. Get ahead of the curve; the mass influx of cars — increasing number of UCD students, faculty and staff zipping about. Amazon, USPS, UPS, FedEX trucks and vans intermingled with Unitrans and Yolobuses making their delivery and routes.

Join me in my experiment of not driving or riding in an automobile for two weeks. If on my trike or my walk I get some eye contact I’ll smile and wave at you in your car. Knowing that most likely wherever you’re trying to get to has no parking.

My 70-year love affair with cars is over. Each of your vehicles costs a thousand or more each month. Think of the fun you’ll have with your pay raise.

— Long a Davis resident and retired from a successful HVAC sales career, I enjoy travel, reading and now finding my writing voice. I value your input so please email me (bertieb1970@gmail.com). Thank you. Bertie.