Asking me to pay for parking is the same as saying "please don't come here unless you absolutely have to".

And that's exactly what I do - I almost never go anywhere that makes you pay for parking. Downtown, or to visit congested cities for example. Or to small stores on roads with parking meters.

Are those places happier without me? Maybe. Depends on if they value whatever economic activity I would produce over their poor traffic management.

Would I use public transportation? After trying it for a while in a city that is widely considered among the top 5 in the world for public transport my answer is a resounding: NO!

Public transport is horrible, even when it is the best humans are able to make it. I feel bad for those people who have no other choice, and I am determined to never live in a city that requires it.