Parking runs on numbers. Play with them.
Four games, a fleet simulator and a live dashboard, built on the U.S. DOT’s National Transportation Statistics and Parkonomics research. Every figure is dated to its source.
That is 0.0 round trips to the Moon.
One question. Real federal data.
Pick one. Most take under three minutes.
Height Fight
Stack 32 homes near Santa Monica’s E Line under three parking rules. Dig it or stack it, keep Sunny next door from filing an appeal, then count the empty stalls on move-in day.
Curb Boss
Run the LAX horseshoe for three shifts: a free curb, a $5.5 billion people mover, then a curb with a price. Get Mom home from Tom Bradley without circling.
Higher or Lower
Two dated numbers, one call. Build a streak, beat the clock and earn your parking rank.
Time Stamp
We show you a number from American driving. You stamp the year it happened. Bullseyes stack.
When Does the Garage Feel It?
Set an EV or self-driving scenario and watch how many years the parked fleet lags the showroom.
Parkonomics Vital Signs
Driving, commuting, delay, charging and the cost of a car, each with its trend and its date.
Every number here has an argument attached.
The Meter gives you the data. Parkonomics writers tell you what it means for the people who build, finance and run parking.
Plugging In Wisely
The full research case for EV charging in parking facilities, with a citable DOI and a free PDF.
Read the paper → ReferenceThe Parkonomics Glossary
PARCS, curb pricing, Level 4 autonomy. The words behind the numbers, defined in plain English.
Look something up → Research, bylines and panelsWant analysis like this?
Commission research, a bylined article or a panel from the Parkonomics team for your organization or publication.
Work with us →Where the data comes from
The Meter runs on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ National Transportation Statistics. Federal tables update on different schedules, so each instrument shows the data year and the BTS release it uses. Checked Oct 1, 2026.
| Table | Measures | Data through | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-35 | Highway vehicle miles | 2024 | Sep 25, 2026 |
| 1-11 | Vehicles registered | 2024 | Jul 27, 2026 |
| 3-17 | Cost to own a car | 2025 | Apr 28, 2026 |
| 1-19 | Plug-in sales | 2025 | Mar 26, 2026 |
| 1-6b | Charging locations | 2025 | Mar 26, 2026 |
| 1-69 | Commuter delay | 2024 | Nov 26, 2025 |
| 1-41 | How people commute | 2024 | Sep 26, 2025 |
| 1-26 | Average vehicle age | 2025 | Aug 26, 2025 |
| 1-17a | New vehicle sales | 2024 | Jun 26, 2025 |
| 1-17b | Sales by automation level | 2021 | May 26, 2023 |
Good to know
Where does The Meter’s data come from?
From National Transportation Statistics, published by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Each instrument names the tables it uses.
How current are the numbers?
Each figure carries its data year and the date BTS released it. When BTS publishes a revision, we update the instruments and the dates together.
Why do some figures lag by a year or more?
Federal statistics take time to collect and verify. Sales by automation level, for example, currently run through 2021. We show the lag instead of hiding it.
Can I cite or share these numbers?
Yes. Cite the BTS table and release date shown, and link to the instrument. Every game ends with a score card you can share on LinkedIn.
New instruments land here first. Get the next one.
Follow Parkonomics on LinkedIn for new games, fresh BTS releases and the analysis behind them. Or send this page to the colleague who always thinks they know the numbers.