Low cost Dynamic Signage?
No budget for the latest in Dynamic Signage technology to help your customers navigate quickly to that elusive parking spot? Here’s a rather basic version spotted in the US which comes complete with an attendant who updates the sign as required. And another less than dynamic example from Cleveland Airport which apparently won’t require much […]
Airport Parking Infographic a winner
We love a great infographic, and here’s an interesting one from Budapest Airport, Hungary, which is experiencing very strong growth in parking (up 40% in 2014 to over 1 million vehicles). It features a visual comparison of alternative methods of getting to the airport, and helps the traveller choose the best parking option taking into […]
Free parking to boost EV sales in Germany
The German cabinet has backed a bill designed to stimulate demand for electronic vehicles by enabling municipalities to offer EV owners incentives such as free parking, and the use of bus lanes, as reported by Businessweek. As a world leader in car manufacturing, the bill simultaneously aims to stimulate the sluggish sales of EVs in Germany […]
IKEA tries urban stores with No Parking
IKEA is making a foray into the urban market with a number of new “city” stores that have smaller footprints and no parking provision. It sounds improbable if not impossible, given that the mainstay of IKEA inventory is the DIY flat packs which could be rather difficult to carry home on the bus, train or […]
World’s first 3D printed car
At the International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 in Chicago last week, Local Motors has unveiled the first 3D printed car, reports SBS. Manufactured in just 44 hours, the “Strati” (Italian for layers) is set to challenge the traditional methods of car manufacturing. The mechanical components – battery, wiring, suspension – are sourced from a variety […]
Dedicated lane for phone addicts
In a rather disturbing story from SBS, there are reports that the city of Chongqing in China has introduced reserved lanes for mobile phone addicts. What??? The only pleasing thing about this news is that it wasn’t a dedicated lane in traffic! Encouraging the widespread practice of having one’s nose stuck to the device, the […]
Record price for parking in NYC
Trendy SoHo in New York City is in the news for setting a record asking price for a parking spot. The new project at 42 Crosby Street was a former parking lot and is now being developed into 10 luxury apartments (architect Annabelle Selldorf’s rendering above), as reported in the NY Times. With apartments priced […]
Adelaide embraces Park(ing) Day 2014
Hats off to the City of Adelaide, putting Australia on the map as one of the southern hemisphere’s most enthusiastic supporters of World Park(ing) Day, set for September 19th. With its origins in 2005 in San Francisco, Park(ing) day is an annual event held on the third Friday of September, which sees parking spaces converted […]
QR Codes help locate travellers’ cars at US airport
Indianapolis International Airport is using Quick Response (QR) Code technology to help travellers locate their parked carswhich can be challenging in large lots, especially for infrequent travellers. As reported on the QR Code Press, QR Codes have now been added to shelters throughout the Economy lot (8,000 spaces), and also on pillars on upper […]
Traffic light hacking a security risk
While it might sound like a plot line from the latest action blockbuster, the exposure of traffic signal systems to hacking is a real risk that needs to be addressed. A group of researchers from the University of Michigan published a paper recently which details how they were able to break into the signal system, […]
Innovative car park with roof-top sports ground
The latest addition to our list of “Alternative uses for a Car Park” will now include “sporting field”. The University of Colorado in Colorado Springs has recently completed a new car park which doubles as a sports venue, as reported in The Gazette. With its ribbon-cutting ceremony this month, the USD $23M project will simultaneously […]
NZ trials new pedestrian crossing technology
It’s one of those things that makes you wonder….”why didn’t anyone think of that before?” As reported in the Otago Times, Invercargill is the first in the world to trial a new technology for pedestrian crossings. Simple as it sounds, it allows the would-be-crosser to press the button and then activate a longer crossing cycle, […]
They didn’t even bother to pave this paradise!
The land of my forebears never ceases to amaze me… Sicily is a land of contrasts. On the one hand you can book a hotel in Palermo for around 100 euros a night and find yourself in a room with this ceiling: On the other, where else could a beautiful beach like the one above […]
Realigning public perception of parking meters
In a recent article from SFGate, Donald Shoup suggests that parking meters could be made more attractive politically by utilising technology which gives cities the option to offer discounts to local residents. By using pay-by-license technology (linking payment information to license plates), municipalities can now structure pricing systems which recognise and favour their residents. Smart […]
Parking people adapt well to GenFlux
We have had permission from US-based Vanessa Solesbee to re-blog her recent article that appeared in The Parking Professional magazine on The Importance of People. The article explains why parking industry people seem to be adapting particularly well to the new paradigm, “Generation Flux”, where mastering change has become the defining characteristic of today’s successful […]
MonkeyParking App shut down in US
Beware: not all apps that come to market actually serve the common good, and some might even be illegal. Italian-based MonkeyParking found this out the hard way when it was told last week to “cease and desist” operations in San Francisco or face a lawsuit. MonkeyParking is (was) an app that allows drivers to auction […]
Auto-pilot app for driving in traffic jams
A recently announced app developed by Scania and Volkswagen Group Research purportedly will make you more productive while spending time in traffic jams. In terms of road safety, it is hard to imagine that encouraging (more) people to use devices while driving would be a good thing. Nevertheless, the app has won a prestigious award, the 2014 HMi (Human […]
Journey to a Better Block
An enthusiastic group of Dallas residents recently transformed a busy intersection into a pop-up pedestrian plaza. The notable feature of the event, reported in Treehugger, was not just that they found yet another use for duct tape — the weekend event was actually an effort to revitalize a stalled community redevelopment project that had come […]
Executive Cycle Suit sans Lycra
For cyclists, the home to office commute will now be even more efficient, with the latest business suit technology available from the US. Using Australian 135 Performance wool (breathable, moisture and odour resistant, and a little bit stretchy), San Francisco-based company Parker Dusseau has designed the “Commuter Suit”. It is designed to move like cyclists […]
Slime mold models Tokyo rail network
Researchers in Japan and the UK have modelled the complex Tokyo rail network with remarkable accuracy by enlisting the services of the humble slime mold. The single cell, brainless yellow mold, Physarum polycephalum is able to build highly efficient networks of nutrient channeling tubes between food sources. The researchers created a food network of oat […]
London Congestion Charge to rise
London is also grappling with its pollution problem and is considering changes to its Congestion Charging scheme. Currently imposed on every non-exempt vehicle entering the chargeable district, the levy is slated for a general increase commencing June 2014 from £10 to £11.50 per day. According to the Transport for London website, this increase is […]
Solar roadways project seeks public support
A highly-awarded project that has consumed the lives of an Idaho couple since 2006 is now seeking public support for the next phase of the journey – working towards the introduction of solar roadways. Scott and Julie Brusaw are wrapping up Phase II of their project –building a prototype parking lot using the solar […]
Madrid tackles pollution problems with Smart Meters
The City of Madrid is enlisting Smart Parking Meters to help address the city’s dangerous pollution levels, which are consistently exceeding EU limits. According to The Guardian, the scheme which commences on July 1 will penalize drivers of cars that are responsible for more emissions. In a rating system based on the vehicle engine […]
US operators adopting size-based parking charges
As an adjunct to our Madrid post, we note that some parking operators in the US are also adopting variable pricing measures, but this has more to do with a scarcity of space than any green initiative. According to the Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, drivers of large SUVs are being charged extra to […]
UK invests in green vehicles and their drivers
The UK has taken a bold stand for a greener future with the recent announcement of a £500 m investment in the growing electric car movement, as reported in The Yorkshire Post recently. Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg unveiled the initiative saying “This is about creating a culture change in our towns and cities so […]
Self-driving, self-parking Volvos trialled in Sweden
Volvo has launched its pilot program of driverless cars in Sweden. As reported in The Guardian, the project, called “Drive Me”, is the world’s first large-scale autonomous driving pilot project. The 100 self-driving Volvo cars will be tested on public roads in everyday driving conditions around the city of Gothenburg. “Volvo’s analysis on traffic safety […]
Paris smog triggers emergency traffic ban
In a dramatic attempt to alleviate the choking smog that enveloped Paris last week, the Federal Government imposed an emergency ban on half of the expected traffic by implementing an odd-even license plate system for alternate days, commencing on March 17th. That day, 700 police manned the city issuing spot fines to any cars or […]
UK play streets making a comeback
Parts of Britain are reinvigorating their neighbourhoods by bringing back “play streets”. As reported in the UK Telegraph, dozens of streets are being closed off to traffic for three hours a week so that children can play safely in them after school. Play streets are not a new concept – they were first introduced in […]
NYPD targets its own in parking enforcement blitz
The New York City Police Department’s Internal Affairs unit is on a mission – to curtail the widely-held view that certain government vehicles can park where they like without consequence. The NY Times reports that a small towing unit belonging to the IAB is charged with cleaning up No Standing Zones around the city being […]
Car park data helps US retailer improve bottom line
US DIY retailer, Lowes, is using data collected from its car parks to optimise staffing ratios and gain a competitive advantage against its rival, Home Depot. As reported by Bloomberg Business Week, hourly images of the car park are collected by satellite, and these are analysed to help paint a picture of the peaks and […]