The Lure and the Limits of New Mobile Apps for Parking
Real-time parking guidance enhances convenience for drivers, but parking industry says content is king
Media Contact:
Helen Sullivan
703.847.9702 office
703.606.7622 mobile
sullivan@parking.org
FREDERICKSBURG, VA - March 11, 2011 - The future is here in the
parking world, thanks to an explosion of new parking applications
for smart phones and mobile devices, says Shawn Conrad, Executive
Director of the International Parking Institute (IPI), the largest
association of the parking profession.
What do these mobile parking apps and parking-related cell phone
technologies do?
Imagine your phone calling you to tell you your time on the parking
meter is about to expire - and being able to extend time by paying
remotely. Imagine tapping on your mobile device and getting a
birds-eye view of available parking spots or garage locations,
complete with pricing information. Or imagine landing at an airport
and having your mobile device display where to go for a taxi,
shuttle, train, rental car or even a helicopter ride to your
destination. Can't remember where you parked? Imagine checking your
phone to find your car's location, complete with navigation
instructions to get to your parking spot.
You don't have to imagine any more because in cities across the
United States, mobile applications or "apps" that give real-time
parking information and guidance on cell phones and other mobile
devices are now available.
But, Conrad says, "Content is king and the maximum benefit for
drivers will occur when mobile app companies take the steps
necessary to get real-time data from the parking industry."
Conrad says there are a number of companies in the parking industry
that are working to ensure drivers receive accurate data and
content about parking locations, pricing and payment. "The benefits
of this technology are negated if a customer pulls into a parking
facility only to find that the parking rate information on her
mobile app is unavailable or outdated. The key is to ensure that
only high quality content is distributed so customers have a
positive experience."
Cities across the country are embracing these new technologies and
rolling out new parking payment and management systems. Santa Cruz,
California, and Lexington, Kentucky, recently launched a mobile
payment option for parking at their cities' street meters and
pay-by-space lots. This system uses a pay-by-phone and Smartphone
app that allows customers to pay for and tailor their parking
session directly from their mobile phones, from any location.
Customers call a toll-free number or access the app to start and
end their parking session. All parking charges are applied to the
customer's secure credit card on file with the account they set up.
The app allows customers to receive text message reminders when
their parking session is about to end. Customers who wish to pay
using coins may still do so.
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will soon roll
out a program which uses parking sensors installed in 6,000
downtown parking spaces, combined with the latest in parking meter
technology, to feed data to an intelligent parking management
system. According to Daniel Mitchell, Senior Transportation
Engineer in charge of the Meter Operations Division for LADOT, "The
goal is to make parking easy to find and pay for, while reducing
traffic congestion and pollution and encouraging efficient
travel."
Advances in technology streamline the ability to use actual parking
demand to establish parking rates that effectively encourage
turnover and maintain parking availability throughout the day. The
system will deliver real-time parking information directly to
customers through their phones, in-vehicle navigation system and
dynamic on-street signs.
"We are excited about anything that makes parking easier and more
driver-friendly," explains Conrad. He says the benefits go beyond
convenience and extend to sustainability: "By reducing the time
customers spend searching for a parking space, fuel use and carbon
emissions are lowered and air quality is improved."
According to Jason Boseck, President of Parking Data Ventures,
which licenses its parking database to Internet portals, navigation
devices and wireless carriers, "The marketplace for mobile parking
apps is growing fast, but we're only in inning one or two in terms
of what the future will hold."
The International Parking Institute is a resource for professionals
in the parking and transportation industries who want to learn more
about mobile parking apps. The world's largest gathering of parking
professionals will occur at the 2011 International Parking
Institute Conference & Expo in Pittsburgh, May 22-25, and this
year will feature several sessions on intelligent parking
management systems, pay-by-phone parking and new technologies.
About The International Parking Institute
Founded in 1962, the International Parking Institute is the largest
trade association representing the parking industry. Members
include professionals from cities, port authorities, civic centers,
academic institutions, hospitals, airports, theme parks, corporate
complexes, race tracks, transit and transportation agencies,
convention and sports centers, architects, engineers, financial
consultants, urban planners, commercial parking operators and
suppliers of equipment, products and services to the parking and
transportation industry. www.parking.org
