Drivability, or how easy it is to navigate in a vehicle, changes on a yearly basis in every city across the nation. If drivability wasn’t assessed and considered, major cities would lose investment in the features that keep the economy flourishing. The Twin Cities are no exception.

Minneapolis and St. Paul are two of the Midwest’s biggest and most thriving cities. With a booming nightlife, flourishing cultural events, and a steady job market, there’s a lot of hustle and bustle in the downtown areas. Some employees, students, and consumers commute within city limits and utilize the efficient public transit system. Others jump on the main highways criss-crossing the urban landscape to get home to the outer suburbs. And still others bike or walk to reach their destinations.

But how do the Twin Cities balance drivability versus walkability? And just how do these commuter choices affect our road systems each year?

Balancing Drivability Versus Walkability

In many home buyer and community guides, the walkability score is a big deal. The younger generations, specifically Millennials, want to be immersed in a city’s culture. They want to be able to reach several social hotspots easily on foot or by bicycle without being dependent on a car. They might not want the expenses of owning a vehicle. They could desire a more active, physical lifestyle. Or perhaps they are simply environmentally aware. No matter their motivations, walkability plays a major part in maintaining a city’s pull for continuous growth.

Drivability, though often less considered, plays an equally important role in maintaining city life and building on the community. Drivability factors include road conditions, traffic congestion and speeds, and route directness. If someone isn’t able to jump in a car and reach a destination as fast as taking public transit or walking, they will opt for one of the latter. However, people from out of town often have little choice and must drive. Because of this, roads in the Twin Cities have been optimized for drivability from the outer-lying areas.

Commuters and Drivability Cross-Effect

The more drivability to get into an out of a city, the more people will live, spend, buy homes, and support the suburbs. Thus, less money is being delivered to the downtown city infrastructure via taxes, etc. With less money available, the roads and bike paths are not maintained as well. This hurts both walkability and drivability. So, there has to be a limit to drivability so that populations grow within city limits and upkeep can be financed.

Improving Your Commute with Valet Parking

Utilizing valet services improves your commute within the Twin Cities and helps maintain drivability. When cars are parked optimally in the available parking lots and garages, more people are able to visit their favorite establishments. Valet services also help keep downtown traffic running smoothly.

To help your business gain better accessibility and give your patrons a valuable, luxurious experience, consider partnering with Unparalleled Parking. Our drivers can increase your parking capacity and help your business operate at its absolute best. Call us today at (651) 300-1515 to discuss your valet options.