Yes, parking has joined the wave of industries who are developing apps. Downtown Indianapolis will soon launch a smartphone app so people can feed the parking meter virtually. This is a very cool thing. First, because parking has historically been a bit behind the times in the technology realm. But from a parkers standpoint, the convenience alone of not having to rush back to your car to pump quarters in the parking meter is fantastic! The parkers of the world will no longer have to cut lunch short to run and jam a couple of quarters in the meter only to find out when they get there that they are too late and have a parking citation sitting on their windshield. (That's experience talking there, people!) Now they can just update their parking meter via an app and continue chatting about the new outfit they just purchased. With the surge of smartphones in the market, I can only envision more and more parking apps being developed. There are tons of different uses for the smart phone apps and the parking industry should be taking full advantage of technology.
Have you ever wondered what's the next big thing in parking? Well, the folks over at the International Parking Institute asked themselves that question and found the answer in a survey they performed with parking professionals.
According to the survey respondents, the biggest thing coming up in parking is integrated technology including smart phone apps, increased automation and cashless parking options (like pay by cell). I know I have read about a smart phone app in San Francisco, I believe, that will tell potential parkers where a parking spot is available and I am sure that is expanding to more and more cities and universities across the country. How nice will it be to drive into town and find a parking space by hitting an app?! How much time will be saved circling blocks looking for spaces? Genius...pure genius.
Who hasn't seen the video about the automatic parking garage that has been circulating in the parking world for a few months now. You drop off your car, push a couple of buttons and voila - instant parking. Yep, increased automation usually leads to a decrease in demand for front line folks which ultimately reduces the operating costs. The demand to generate higher revenue was a trend us parking types are finding everywhere and by increasing automation, one can do just that.
Finally, cashless parking options - pay-by-cell has been around for a few years now. But, as I am sure the folks over at Parkmobile and Verrus can attest, the demand for this option has grown significantly over the past 18 months or so. T2 Flex's access and revenue control module offers a credit card in - free out option which not only employs cashless parking, but also one that is fully automated without the need for parking attendants. And let's not forget the credit card enabled parking meters like the Luke and Shelby multispace meters over at Digital Payment Technologies. These meters are life savers from my point of view - I never have any change to feed meters, but I always have my debit card!
If you would like to read more about IPI's study, you can do so by visiting their website.
Happy parking!
According to the survey respondents, the biggest thing coming up in parking is integrated technology including smart phone apps, increased automation and cashless parking options (like pay by cell). I know I have read about a smart phone app in San Francisco, I believe, that will tell potential parkers where a parking spot is available and I am sure that is expanding to more and more cities and universities across the country. How nice will it be to drive into town and find a parking space by hitting an app?! How much time will be saved circling blocks looking for spaces? Genius...pure genius.
Who hasn't seen the video about the automatic parking garage that has been circulating in the parking world for a few months now. You drop off your car, push a couple of buttons and voila - instant parking. Yep, increased automation usually leads to a decrease in demand for front line folks which ultimately reduces the operating costs. The demand to generate higher revenue was a trend us parking types are finding everywhere and by increasing automation, one can do just that.
Finally, cashless parking options - pay-by-cell has been around for a few years now. But, as I am sure the folks over at Parkmobile and Verrus can attest, the demand for this option has grown significantly over the past 18 months or so. T2 Flex's access and revenue control module offers a credit card in - free out option which not only employs cashless parking, but also one that is fully automated without the need for parking attendants. And let's not forget the credit card enabled parking meters like the Luke and Shelby multispace meters over at Digital Payment Technologies. These meters are life savers from my point of view - I never have any change to feed meters, but I always have my debit card!
If you would like to read more about IPI's study, you can do so by visiting their website.
Happy parking!
One of my friends on Facebook posted this and I thought it was appropriate to use here. I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me in parking lots during the busy shopping season at the local mall or heck, on any given weekend at Downtown Disney. In fact, I really don't see how people can live with themselves after taking a parking space someone was waiting for. It is forgivable if the person didn't realize anyone was waiting, but come on!! During a busy time in the parking world, do you really think no one is waiting for that space? Okay I will get off my soapbox. Enjoy the clip and Happy Parking!
Okay, I can't take credit for this one...thanks Blake!!
A man walked into a bank in New York City one day and asked for the loan officer. He told the loan officer that he was going overseas on business for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000. The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan.
The man handed over the keys to a new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer agreed to accept the car as collateral for the loan.
The bank's president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the businessman for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank's underground garage and parked it there.
Two weeks later, the man returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest, which came to $15.41. The loan officer said, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?"
The man replied: "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and know it will be there when I return?"
As you know T2 Systems develops parking solutions. We offer software like permit management and access control, we offer equipment like revenue control equipment and handheld ticket writers and we also offer parking ticket collection services through CCS. Who do we offer those products to? Glad you asked, last year at our annual User Group conference we put together a short video concentrating on our customer successes. We did this because we wouldn't be here without our customers and we wanted to highlight a few facts and figures from them. Feel free to watch the T2 Customer Success video:
You know, we Americans have it really pretty easy...parking included. Yeah, we complain about having to pay for parking and when we don't, we complain about having to pay that parking ticket. But really for the most part, we are pretty lucky. We have technology to help us find parking spaces, automatic access control and revenue control facilities to get us parked quicker and for the most part, we have paved lots and garages.
Recently, I was in Roatan, Honduras and snapped this photo of a parking lot. I tried to be the good T2 corporate citizen and sell them a new parking management system, but they weren't biting. Maybe next time... :)
Recently, I was in Roatan, Honduras and snapped this photo of a parking lot. I tried to be the good T2 corporate citizen and sell them a new parking management system, but they weren't biting. Maybe next time... :)
Okay, so lately I have been spending a rather high percentage of my time at the amusement parks of central Florida. The weather has been beautiful and I just like to get out and about...people watch so to speak. What amazes me though, is the parking operations at the different parks. For example, the Disney parks use manned lots to control parking. You pay your $14 fee to gain entrance to the attendant and follow the cones until you get to the designated parking row where several additional parking attendants guide you into your space for the day - ones even on a Segway (which I think is really cool, but...I digress). The same work flow happens over at Universal Studios with one exception, you get to park in a parking garage instead of having the sun beat down on your car in a lot. Other than that, everything is the same - okay no Segway here but everything else is the same.
So I guess what I am getting at is, aren't they even the least bit worried about having that much cash exchange hands without some kind of control? I mean, yeah most times I go through the gates, the parking attendant rings up the money in the cash register so there is no question. But I am sure there are times when it is busy that the cashier doesn't ring up a transaction, for the sake of saving time. I think this would be a perfect location to have a parking management system. Maybe something like T2's PermitNOW (shameless plug inserted here!) I mean, in order for the parking permits to be printed, a transaction has to take place. So whether the customer is paying by cash or credit card, the parking attendant runs it through the handheld ticket writer and out comes a parking permit for the day. The beauty of this is, since payment has to be made in order to generate a parking permit, everything is trackable through the parking management software on the back end.
Well, seeing as Disney has been in business for a few decades, I guess they probably have this parking thing down, but I say, there is always room for improvement:)
So I guess what I am getting at is, aren't they even the least bit worried about having that much cash exchange hands without some kind of control? I mean, yeah most times I go through the gates, the parking attendant rings up the money in the cash register so there is no question. But I am sure there are times when it is busy that the cashier doesn't ring up a transaction, for the sake of saving time. I think this would be a perfect location to have a parking management system. Maybe something like T2's PermitNOW (shameless plug inserted here!) I mean, in order for the parking permits to be printed, a transaction has to take place. So whether the customer is paying by cash or credit card, the parking attendant runs it through the handheld ticket writer and out comes a parking permit for the day. The beauty of this is, since payment has to be made in order to generate a parking permit, everything is trackable through the parking management software on the back end.
Well, seeing as Disney has been in business for a few decades, I guess they probably have this parking thing down, but I say, there is always room for improvement:)
Hello from the fabulous world of parking! I was just reading an article about the pros and cons of backing in when parking when I came across a video touting how women can't back in to a parking spot. Wonderful. Really?! Are we really still caught in the 1950's with the stereotypes of women and bad driving - or parking in this matter? Come on! I will admit, it isn't my favoritest thing to do. But I can back into a parking spot in a pinch.
Therefore, I figured I would post a rather funny ad I found online that targets men - especially those in exotic cars and bad shirts. Enjoy!!
Therefore, I figured I would post a rather funny ad I found online that targets men - especially those in exotic cars and bad shirts. Enjoy!!
Who says being a parking lot attendant is a dead end job? Well those of us in the parking industry sure don't think so. I mean, there is a plethora of things one can do here in the parking world. And parking can even be a springboard for bigger and better things.
Take Michael Bloomberg for example. The billionaire mayor of New York City - yeah that Michael Bloomberg. Well guess what? He got his start in the parking industry. Yep, he was a parking lot attendant while working his way through college. Now, I doubt he had any advanced parking management system to track scofflaws, etc. But I personally think it is rather inspiring to see someone of this stature start at the bottom and work his way up and for the record, I think it is really cool that he started in parking.
Take Michael Bloomberg for example. The billionaire mayor of New York City - yeah that Michael Bloomberg. Well guess what? He got his start in the parking industry. Yep, he was a parking lot attendant while working his way through college. Now, I doubt he had any advanced parking management system to track scofflaws, etc. But I personally think it is rather inspiring to see someone of this stature start at the bottom and work his way up and for the record, I think it is really cool that he started in parking.
Okay, so we are all out there getting our holiday shopping done. Personally I have to stop at the mall, the grocery store and Target before I can be home for the weekend. However, we can't be too busy to take time to do the right thing. You've got it...let's all try to make this busy season a bit easier on one another by parking our cars within the lines. I remember when I first started to use my trusty 48 colors of Crayolas, Mom stressed to me how important it was to 'stay in the lines'. Fast forward 10 years to when I was parking the car for the first time. Yep, it was Dad's turn to ensure I was parking that fabulous station wagon 'in the lines' so that no one would ding the doors. (Although why Dad was saving the station wagon from a ding is beyond me...I think it actually went to the demolition derby after Dad's 4 girls received their driver's license.)
Anyways, it really ticks me off when I see others parking like this:
Okay... this is just rude and well, inconsiderate on the truck's part. Now, how is this person supposed to get back into their car without dinging doors, etc especially with all the packages they will inevitably be carrying???
This holiday season, take a moment after finding that elusive parking space in the mall parking lot and straighten up your vehicle. Let's make everyone's holidays happy.
Anyways, it really ticks me off when I see others parking like this:
Okay... this is just rude and well, inconsiderate on the truck's part. Now, how is this person supposed to get back into their car without dinging doors, etc especially with all the packages they will inevitably be carrying???
This holiday season, take a moment after finding that elusive parking space in the mall parking lot and straighten up your vehicle. Let's make everyone's holidays happy.
Yes, really! I think this gentleman found out the hard way not to call parking enforcement officers "meter maids". That is a term that has no place in parking in 2010:
We did it! We made it through another User Group conference. And what a User Group it was! We held it at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa in Phoenix, AZ which was an absolutely awesome location. Beautiful, serene mountains to look out on after a hard day of informative sessions.
Speaking of sessions, our instructors really knocked it out of the park this year. We covered T2 Flex, T2 Flex access and revenue control, handhelds and Crystal Reports to name a few. We also had a special "Customer Says" track where our customer presenters spoke on some of their solutions and how they are used in everyday situations. This track proved invaluable to the attendees and was a huge success.
We also had our vendor partners demonstrating everything from handheld ticket writers to access control gate arms. There was even a paystation in the "See it Live" area. Pretty impressive and the customers loved being able to check out the new options and speak with the representatives.
All in all, we had a fantastic time and can't wait till next year when we come home to Indy. No, it won't be as warm as Phoenix, but it will be a guaranteed great time since we are on our home turf!
See you all November 8-10, 2011!!
Speaking of sessions, our instructors really knocked it out of the park this year. We covered T2 Flex, T2 Flex access and revenue control, handhelds and Crystal Reports to name a few. We also had a special "Customer Says" track where our customer presenters spoke on some of their solutions and how they are used in everyday situations. This track proved invaluable to the attendees and was a huge success.
We also had our vendor partners demonstrating everything from handheld ticket writers to access control gate arms. There was even a paystation in the "See it Live" area. Pretty impressive and the customers loved being able to check out the new options and speak with the representatives.
All in all, we had a fantastic time and can't wait till next year when we come home to Indy. No, it won't be as warm as Phoenix, but it will be a guaranteed great time since we are on our home turf!
See you all November 8-10, 2011!!
So, I am scouring the parking world for information and I came across this article. Apparently an over-zealous parking enforcement officer ticketed a hearse and other cars for being illegally parked during a funeral in Milwaukee. Some folks saw the officer placing the parking citations on the windows and said something to her, but this did not deter the parking enforcement officer from carrying out her job.
To be fair, a funeral attendee called the city and had the tickets voided, but there has to be a line somewhere.
I don't know about you, but the last thing I am thinking about while attending a funeral is if I am illegally parked.
I'm just sayin'
To be fair, a funeral attendee called the city and had the tickets voided, but there has to be a line somewhere.
I don't know about you, but the last thing I am thinking about while attending a funeral is if I am illegally parked.
I'm just sayin'
YES! There is humor in parking...believe it or not. In fact, those of us who work in parking happen to have a wonderful sense of humor. We have to, otherwise we would all be insane!
This ran in a small newspaper in Kentucky. Enjoy!
This ran in a small newspaper in Kentucky. Enjoy!
So, you might be asking yourself "What the heck is PARK(ing) Day?" Well according to their website, "PARK(ing) Day is an annual, worldwide event that inspires city dwellers everywhere to transform metered parking spots into temporary parks for the public good."
Basically, citizens collaborate to temporarily transform regular old parking spaces into tiny little public parks along the road. These little "parking parks" are just temporary, usually lasting the time of the meter, but they do spruce up an otherwise dreary area for at least a little while.
PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 when Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, converted a single space into a little park complete with a bench and a tree. Once their time was up on the parking meter, they dismantled the park and headed home. Well, the picture of the transformation went viral on the Internet and here we are today.
Want more information on building your own park? Check out the PARK(ing) Day website.
Have fun on Friday and I hope to see ya out there. Be sure to post pictures of your "parks" on our Facebook page!
Basically, citizens collaborate to temporarily transform regular old parking spaces into tiny little public parks along the road. These little "parking parks" are just temporary, usually lasting the time of the meter, but they do spruce up an otherwise dreary area for at least a little while.
PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 when Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, converted a single space into a little park complete with a bench and a tree. Once their time was up on the parking meter, they dismantled the park and headed home. Well, the picture of the transformation went viral on the Internet and here we are today.
Want more information on building your own park? Check out the PARK(ing) Day website.
Have fun on Friday and I hope to see ya out there. Be sure to post pictures of your "parks" on our Facebook page!
Hello! I found this on a list serv and thought it was something one doesn't see too often...a poetic interpretation of language typically seen in parking enforcement.
Anyone in the Cambridge area, feel free to check it out!
Anyone in the Cambridge area, feel free to check it out!
Cambridge Artist-in-Residence Sees Poetry in Traffic Enforcement
The Cambridge Arts Council (CAC) and the Department of Traffic, Parking and Transportation (TPT) are jointly presenting a public art project from September 7 - November 17, 2010 by artist Daniel Peltz that offers a poetic interpretation of language typically used in parking enforcement.
As artist-in-residence with the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department for a week in January 2010, the artist shadowed TPT workers and interviewed employees in a variety of roles. As a result of this experience, Peltz was "struck by the complex humanity, warmth and humor" in the staff of the department, something missing from the world of the parking regulations they are charged with enforcing.
Throughout the spring, Peltz developed his project, entitled Crossing Non-Signalized Locations, into a suite of four actions that bring wonder and curiosity to the language of parking regulations: (1) several new street signs designed by the artist and placed in unlikely locations around the City for the next few months to be discovered and pondered;
(2) a re-designed parking ticket envelope that introduces a series of yoga postures for giving and receiving parking citations, inviting us to imagine a more peaceful exchange between Parking Control Officers and car owners; (3) "10,000 Excuses", a large-scale wall drawing in the CAC Gallery (2nd floor of the City Hall Annex), composed from the archive of "excuses" residents have written and submitted in past parking disputes
-- City staff and the public may choose an anonymous "excuse" and re-write it on the wall, transforming the archive into a composite portrait of life in the city; (4) a fictional parking regulation authorizing "soft-booting," in which a stuffed fabric parking "boot" is fabricated in the atrium near the TPT offices.
Cars and the spaces they use are a significant feature of our City, necessarily regulated to ensure the efficient flow of urban activity.
The relationship between municipal authority and the public around parking enforcement is rich with expressive language and emotion. In supporting the ability of artists to offer a new perspective on our lives, the Department of Traffic, Parking and Transportation and the Cambridge Arts Council invite all residents to experience and participate in this unique public art project, Crossing Non-Signalized Locations.
A reception with the artist present will be held at the Cambridge Arts Council's CAC Gallery (344 Broadway) on Tuesday, September 7, from 6-8 p.m. For more information, call 617-349-4389 or visit:
www.cambridgema.gov/CAC/ <http://www.cambridgeartscouncil.org/> and click on the Of, By and For Link.
I am a theme park junkie. I love to go and ride the roller coasters and just generally have fun. Recently, I was at Disney's Hollywood Studios and rode the Rock 'n Roller Coaster. Well, as I am standing in the queue line, what do I see:
Nope, can't get away from parking - even on a roller coaster.
This made me think. Although some venues handle event parking from time to time, these theme parks do it every day. Thousands of parking transactions happen business as usual. So then, my question is how do they audit these parking attendants? Do these theme parks have a parking management system? If not, how do the ensure every car has paid in some way or another? This is a question I think I should do a little more research on.
Anyone up for a coaster?
Nope, can't get away from parking - even on a roller coaster.
This made me think. Although some venues handle event parking from time to time, these theme parks do it every day. Thousands of parking transactions happen business as usual. So then, my question is how do they audit these parking attendants? Do these theme parks have a parking management system? If not, how do the ensure every car has paid in some way or another? This is a question I think I should do a little more research on.
Anyone up for a coaster?
I normally wouldn't write about parking technology. I mean although I work for a parking software company, I am technologically challenged. However, I saw an article recently about Washington, DC testing parking occupancy sensors. A small disc is placed in the parking space that sends information telling officials whether the parking space is occupied or not.
As of now, Washington, DC is just using the sensors to track parking habits. However, in the future the information could be funneled to a smartphone or computer telling customers where to find empty parking spaces. Now, that would be awesome!
As of now, Washington, DC is just using the sensors to track parking habits. However, in the future the information could be funneled to a smartphone or computer telling customers where to find empty parking spaces. Now, that would be awesome!
Hello!
Since many of you are smack dab in the middle of permit season, I thought it would be approporiate to re-post something our own Maggie Vercoe, Director of Client Engagement wrote last year:
We are in the thick of Parking Permit Season! It requires capitalization because of the sheer craziness of it. Universities especially across the country are bracing themselves for the onslaught of students, staff, faculty, etc to hit their offices and their web pages to get their prime parking permits.
If you are just reading this, and haven't begun your planning, you might be in trouble. Grab the bottle of Jack and hide under your desk until it blows over.
In seriousness, there are a lot of things that you can do to get through the season with little pain.
1. Plan, Plan, and Plan. Run reports over the last year in this date range to see what sales you did, by customer type, by permit location, permit type, and location of purchase. This will help you to plan your communications to your customer. For example, if you had more purchases in your office than online, now is the time to communicate to your customers what a great web page you have and how easy it is to purchase a parking permit online!
2. Map it out! Consider laying out all of your parking permit configuration in a spreadsheet, for example. This will help you identify all of your pricing structures, rules around your permits, and keep you organized. It will make configuring them in your database easier every year if you maintain the copy.
3. Plan out what the week will look like. Staff accordingly. If possible, over-staff. There could be lines out the door. It may be useful to have someone handing out materials while you wait. Rutgers University used to have a tent set up to shield the heat and cold beverages while people waited. If you have to allow people to purchase in your office, this is fantastic customer service for a Department that is not always so liked by its customers!
4. If you do online parking permit sales, make sure that you have tested out everything with your new rules, permits, and pricing in a test environment. This includes test transactions through to your payment gateway and file transfers to payroll or the bursar. If any of your rules or software has changed, testing is key!
These are just a handful of tips. Make sure you plan early and involve all of your key players. Good luck!
This was sent to me from a co-worker, Blake Laufer.
Thanks Blake! Enjoy...
When you have a chance check out this video from SF Park. It’s about 2½ minutes long and is probably the best (and cutest) parking marketing video I’ve ever seen. The City of San Francisco has a federal funding grant to experiment with demand-based pricing for metered parking.
Thanks Blake! Enjoy...
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