Looking at just malls, they're private companies operating in a way that maximizes their profit (presumably). Parking is part of their cost of business, and something they've presumably decided is worth the cost overall. I don't think its reasonable that we should tell them that parking isn't a cost they can pass on to their consumers. And going even further, the pedestrians/transit users would still probably be hurt by "no free parking" as less profit for the business means a bunch of other negative things will happen (including some % going out of business).*
But in a bigger sense, I don't really agree with your general attitude about it. Any complex system will have examples like you're talking about. I keep my thermostat pretty low in the Winter and generally find malls unbearably hot. I don't think its reasonable for me to complain that I'm having to subsidize the heating costs that are passed on to consumers.
* And this argument still applies to things like Government owned parking uptown. Making it harder for businesses to stay in business has a lot of negative effects for everybody (including pedestrians/transit users). This is a similar argument I make to drivers about public transit. Just because you don't plan on using it directly, doesn't mean there aren't positive benefits to you.
But in a bigger sense, I don't really agree with your general attitude about it. Any complex system will have examples like you're talking about. I keep my thermostat pretty low in the Winter and generally find malls unbearably hot. I don't think its reasonable for me to complain that I'm having to subsidize the heating costs that are passed on to consumers.
* And this argument still applies to things like Government owned parking uptown. Making it harder for businesses to stay in business has a lot of negative effects for everybody (including pedestrians/transit users). This is a similar argument I make to drivers about public transit. Just because you don't plan on using it directly, doesn't mean there aren't positive benefits to you.