To the editor,
Julieta Soto’s recent article on Coronado’s parking challenges titled, “Can’t find parking in Coronado? This misery is expressed by many,” prompted me to think about the issue from a somewhat different perspective.
Much of the discussion surrounding parking focuses on where vehicles can be placed. Perhaps we should also be asking how people can move around the island without needing to use their cars for every trip.
Like many residents, I often think twice before driving across town for dinner, shopping, a concert, a community event, or simply to visit friends. Some residents hesitate to give up a hard-won street parking space. Others find the prospect of traffic, searching for parking, and a long walk to their destination more trouble than the trip seems worth.
As a result, many of us stay close to home.
We patronize businesses in our immediate neighborhoods while venturing less frequently to other parts of the island. This is not because we lack interest in supporting local restaurants, shops, cultural organizations, and community events. Rather, the inconvenience of getting there can outweigh the benefit of the outing.
Coronado has already recognized the importance of mobility through its free Summer Shuttle program. The shuttle provides a valuable service for residents and visitors alike, helping reduce vehicle trips and making it easier to access destinations along the Village corridor during the busiest months of the year. It is an excellent example of transportation being used to address parking concerns.
Its success, however, raises a broader question. If mobility solutions are beneficial during the summer, should Coronado also be thinking more comprehensively about transportation during the rest of the year?
Parking pressures, traffic congestion, and mobility challenges do not disappear after Labor Day. Residents and visitors continue to shop, dine, attend performances, volunteer, and participate in community life throughout the year. For many seniors and individuals with mobility limitations, even relatively short distances can present obstacles.
A thoughtfully designed local transportation system operating year-round could help address these challenges. Such a service would not replace existing programs but rather build upon them, connecting major destinations throughout the island while reducing dependence on personal vehicles for short trips.
The benefits could be substantial. Residents would enjoy greater freedom to participate in all aspects of community life. Businesses could cultivate a broader customer base among Coronado residents themselves, making them less dependent on seasonal visitor traffic. Visitors would find it easier to explore the island, and fewer vehicles on the road could ease congestion and reduce parking demand.
Hotels, businesses, cultural organizations, and community groups might even find opportunities to partner in supporting such a system, recognizing that transportation is not merely a convenience but an investment in the economic and social vitality of Coronado.
Most importantly, every resident who chooses a shuttle, trolley, or other shared transportation option instead of moving a personal vehicle leaves a parking space available for someone else. In that sense, improving mobility benefits everyone.
Coronado is a compact island, yet for many residents it can sometimes feel surprisingly difficult to navigate. Rather than focusing exclusively on parking, perhaps it is time to have a broader conversation about mobility, accessibility, and how people move throughout our community year-round.
A transportation solution that serves residents, businesses, and visitors alike may ultimately prove more effective than any parking solution alone.
Jacquelyn McCoy is a Coronado resident.
