Difference - Parking Fee

I was visiting natsuwo-beer-san's blog and while talking to him in comment, he got me thinking...

In Japan, parking is free during weekdays and isn't free on weekends. In the States, I believe most of the place that charges for parking (ie. downtown area, China town, etc) only charges on the weekdays and not on the weekends.

Why?


Here's my theories. (I thought of it too much and got multiple theories. I have too much time on my hands DDD: )

Theory Number 1.
In Japan, people use public transportation to commute during weekdays, so not many people would drive to shopping malls = less car = people don't have worry about parking spaces. During weekends, probably family will go out using "my car" (is it a too old word?), thus, there might not be enough parking, so shopping malls charge people and that'd encourage people to take more public transportation? But then, probably public transportation cost more anyway...

Theory Number 2.
Basically the same theory as theory number one, except that the shopping malls charge people so that they can gain extra $$ on the weekends when more people would drive their cars. They just don't charge on the weekdays so that people think "oh that shopping mall is being nice!" or something.

Theory Number 3.
Thinking from the States' stand point. On the weekdays, everyone drives thier car to work. I mean, almost every single person out there with driver's license would drive to work/school. Since there are too many people, cities/organizations charge people fees so that people would think of carpooling to their destination. On the weekend, on the other hand, not many people would go to work, so that's covered, and even if they are to go somewhere by car, they'll most likely to carpool with their family and/or friends.


I'm certain that my theory number 3 is correct. At many places, parking is free after 6pm on the weeknds, until morning, maybe until 7am or something. Exactly the non-work hour, isn't it? This is not the case, though, if it comes to amusement parks. They (over-) charges all the time. Oh the only place I remember that doesn't charge is Disney Downtown at Anaheim. I think the parking is free for first couple of hours or something. Probably because everyone goes there to buy stuff, so they're not losing any money...


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