Focus on car park design
A recent architectural competition in the US by Combo Competitions has brought attention back to “parking garages”. Combo’s premise is to introduce an additional element to the competitions it organises (another structure, a new function tied to the main one or something completely different, as long as it adds value to the project). Combo recognised […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A brief history of the much-maligned parking meter
Parking meter technology has changed considerably in the last 10 years, but not much in the 70 years before that! In case you were wondering (and even if you weren’t), here’s a brief visual history of the parking meter, as told by JNL Parking in the US. The parking meter was first conceived in 1932 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Customer Service anyone?
Here’s a fabulous post from former chair of the International Parking Institute (IPI), Casey Jones which appeared last month in the IPI’s blog, Parking Matters. With Casey’s permission, we are re-blogging it to our network. The lesson is short and sweet, and compulsory reading for any business that thinks it offers GREAT customer service…just make […]
Results of car-sharing study may be grim news for automakers
As a follow up to our recent blog about the Kandi car-vending machine in China, we came across this article in Treehugger, which featured some interesting results from a study on car-sharing programs in the US.Researchers, Alix Partners, have released the results claiming that approximately 500,000 vehicle purchases have been avoided in the US thanks […]
Australia well-positioned after V2V technology given green light in US
Australian technology companies look to be well placed in what could become the future of road safety for light vehicles. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have recently announced that the US will begin taking steps to facilitate the introduction of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology. V2V technology […]
Audi’s Intelligent Assist predicts parking availability
A recent story from Wired has showcased the latest in intelligent technology from Audi. By using “big data”, wireless connectivity and the car’s on-board navigation system, an Audi-developed phone app will not only find parking, but also uses “intelligence” to predict when other spots might open up! Branded as Audi’s Urban Intelligent Assist, the project […]
Tesla S travels across US for free
The Tesla S electric car is in the media again, this time for taking one of its enthusiasts, John Glenny, across the country at no cost. As reported in BRW, Glenny and his daughter travelled from New York to Los Angeles in just five days, via Tesla’s network of Supercharger stations where they were able […]
2013 from the rear-vision mirror
Hard as it is to accept it, another year is about to end. When we ask ourselves “Where did it go?”, we realise that we have been too busy working to notice the passing of time! Appreciating Our Regular and New Clients 2013 has been a very successful year for us at Parking & Traffic Consultants. […]
Electric scooter with boot space
For the latest in electric transport options, Treehugger recently featured this prototype scooter, the Kubo. After you figure out which end is up, you will see that the space underneath is designed to give you ample carrying capacity for your groceries, shopping, briefcase or other precious cargo (not children, however!). The scooter has a weight […]
Choosing a Parking Consultant
We came across an interesting article in the US publication Parking, entitled Best Practices for Selecting a Parking Consultant, published by the NPA. Clearly, we have a vested interest in disseminating this information, but it is written for the benefit of consumers of consulting services, and that’s why we wanted to share it. For some […]
Women in Parking lands in Australia
Cristina Lynn, Vice President of PAA at WIP Launch Event At a recent PAA event in Sydney, PTC Managing Partner and Treasurer of the Parking Association of Australia, Cristina Lynn, launched the Australian chapter of Women In Parking. Australia is the first outpost of the US association by the same name, and members will enjoy […]
Reclaiming your city – lessons from the transformation of NYC
Here’s an inspiring and interesting TED talk from Janette Sadik-Khan, the Transportation Commissioner of New York City, sharing her strategy for transforming urban areas into a place for people. In the space of five years, New York has been reclaimed by the people thanks to some bold moves in the area of transport and planning. […]
Pedal power cleverly promoted
We came across this great infographic recently, which we have already shared via our newsletter. Created in the US, this visually appealing work entitled “Pedal Power” gives some interesting statistics on the growth of cycling, as well as some of the many benefits to our health, our economy, and of course, our planet…Enjoy! Source: http://onlinemastersinpublichealth.com/
The Hyperloop transportation project open for collaboration
Plans have now been unveiled. As promised in last month’s blog, Elon Musk, head of Telsa Motors and Space X, has now released a document outlining the details of his vision for a new form of transportation, the Hyperloop. The 57-page document reveals Musk’s plans for transporting passengers in a low-pressure tube along blankets of […]