[graeme]

It’s the law too. Zoning generally prohibits putting stores and houses together. The law also requires that developers build a minimum amount of parking. Even Houston, reputed to be a zoning free for all, has mandatory parking minimums, which guarantee sprawl and car centric streets.

I live in the plateau neighbourhood of Montreal and as far as I can tell it’s one of the few in north america that doesn’t require any parking. Travel is more like the dutch. You walk, bike, or take a short metro ride and it’s not terribly slower than a car for most of your daily trips, if not faster.