Remembering Donald Shoup (1938-2025)
Professor Donald Shoup passed away on February 6, 2025. Among many other significant achievements and honors he was a founding Advisory Board member of PRN.
Donald’s curiosity, intelligence, passion, generosity, and kindness allowed him not only to expose the critical problems with modern parking policy, but also to ignite and nurture a movement to change them and make the world a better place.
The Parking Reform Network wishes to provide our community with a place to share their stories and thoughts to remember and honor Donald.
Professor Shoup was a donor, member, and booster of PRN’s work. If you are so moved, you can honor his legacy and support the parking reform movement with a memorial donation.
Two of my biggest professional pursuits came directly from ideas from Dr. Shoup – parking cash-out and performance pricing of parking meters. Today, these are more than just ideas, but instead are best practices being implemented in numerous places.
I recall the time that after the successful demonstration of SFpark’s variably priced meters used for performance parking, made possible through a $19M Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) investment, the city hosted—with sponsorship from FHWA and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)—a two-day workshop for lead city parking staff throughout the country. The success of SFpark was a really big deal (it had never been done before), and about 70 people came to the event. At the end of the two days, I moderated a “what’s next” panel with Dr. Shoup and Dr. Rachel Weinberger. After listening to many excellent presentations about how SFpark and other cities were using innovative contracting to improve their metering and communication infrastructure to implement performance parking, often having to overcome some real challenges along the way, I asked Dr. Shoup what might he be most worried about going forwards. He said that “at my age, I don’t really worry about anything,” and then proceeded to answer the question he thought I should have asked instead!
Dr. Shoup showed nothing but respect and admiration for the many people who worked to overcome the technical challenges to implementing his seemingly-simple ideas. He shared in frustrations when progress was stopped, but continued to “fight another day.” He was always accessible, engaged, tenacious, encouraging, and generous in crediting others with accomplishments. He was brilliant and big-hearted, and left a giant legacy!
I recall the time that after the successful demonstration of SFpark’s variably priced meters used for performance parking, made possible through a $19M Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) investment, the city hosted—with sponsorship from FHWA and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)—a two-day workshop for lead city parking staff throughout the country. The success of SFpark was a really big deal (it had never been done before), and about 70 people came to the event. At the end of the two days, I moderated a “what’s next” panel with Dr. Shoup and Dr. Rachel Weinberger. After listening to many excellent presentations about how SFpark and other cities were using innovative contracting to improve their metering and communication infrastructure to implement performance parking, often having to overcome some real challenges along the way, I asked Dr. Shoup what might he be most worried about going forwards. He said that “at my age, I don’t really worry about anything,” and then proceeded to answer the question he thought I should have asked instead!
Dr. Shoup showed nothing but respect and admiration for the many people who worked to overcome the technical challenges to implementing his seemingly-simple ideas. He shared in frustrations when progress was stopped, but continued to “fight another day.” He was always accessible, engaged, tenacious, encouraging, and generous in crediting others with accomplishments. He was brilliant and big-hearted, and left a giant legacy!