The National Park Service is tasked with preserving some of the most dramatic natural and cultural places for our enjoyment. However, access to many National Parks relies on car ownership. I observed the downsides of this transportation strategy when I worked in Olympic National Park. By prioritizing cars, the park created a positive feedback cycle that continuously consumes land. Without alternative modes of transportation, the National Park Service will have to, in the words of Joni Mitchell, "pave paradise and put up a parking lot".
