For the same reason garbage collection service is mandatory in most cities: because people will generate trash and dispose of it one way or another. In the city I lived in if you don't pay the trash bill they add it to your sewer bill, and if you don't pay your sewer bill they put a lien on your house.
When you go to sell your house, do you want the government interviewing potential buyers and vetoing the ones it thinks are likely to buy a car and park it on the street? A block or two away if necessary? Sorry sir, the high bidder for your house works in an industry that makes him a car-commuting risk. You'll have to settle for the second-highest bidder.
You could also just have actual public transit in cities so that car ownership isn't mandatory for all residents.
NYC is pretty much the only metro area in the US that fits this criteria, and thats entirely because it was the only city built up to reasonable density and scale before the postwar racist zoning laws came into effect everywhere else.
I don't understand. In Europe it works like this: There's limited parking space and if someone with a car wants to buy a place, they research the parking situation in the area. If there are not enough private parking lots or a garage, then people keep their cars on the street. There's a risk that it may be a bit of walking involved. Again, if that's not good for you, you buy a place in a sparser area.
I don't understand the veto thing. Can the government of the land of the free veto my decision to sell my apartment to whoever I want with ridiculous reasons like "may want to park outside"? What interviews are you talking about, what bidding and where does one "go to sell" a house? Here you just sign the contract and get it notarized and done deal.
I feel you there - I moved to Europe from the US (though to a car-dependent place - Ireland, sadly).
What happens is:
* People in houses buy cars
* They park on the street (they have to)
* New houses get built
* Those new houses' residents also park on the street
* The street fills up
* Residents pass a law requiring all new construction to come with off-street parking
The idea is to preserve taxpayer-funded parking welfare at the cost of everyone to help car owners store their vehicles for free. Often you see paid street parking but with free (or virtually free) annual permits for people who live on the street.
It pushes buildings apart, makes less pleasant neighbourhoods, reduces walkability, is more dangerous, etc. but it's what we've got becauase we haven't figured out how to transition from "suburbia" to "dense mixed use" without angering the existing residents, who vote.
I mean, you'd think "well we all get a spot I might as well use it how I please so I'll ride a bike and plant a garden in my street spot" but no, apparently that's not allowed for some reason.
When you go to sell your house, do you want the government interviewing potential buyers and vetoing the ones it thinks are likely to buy a car and park it on the street? A block or two away if necessary? Sorry sir, the high bidder for your house works in an industry that makes him a car-commuting risk. You'll have to settle for the second-highest bidder.