“Smart Parking Meters” replace “dumb parking meters” in NYC

A lot has changed in parking meter technology since May 1938 when Carl McGee obtained a patent for the first parking meter in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Look what Old Carl started. What do “smart parking meters” mean for New Yorkers?

A six-month pilot program was initiated in Greenwich Village in October 2008 with the installation of “smart meters”. The rates on these meters increase from $1.00 to $2.00 during peak parking hours between noon to 4:00 p.m. The parking rates are $1.00 per hour, all other times. These meters will increase revenue, and make enforcement easier. The “smart parking meters” are identified by a logo on the meter.

A spokesperson for the NYC DOT claims the park smart system will give the following benefits:

• Increase the availability of parking spaces
• Increase safety
• Reduce double-parking
• Reduce pollution
• Reduce congestion from circling vehicles

Does this mean that it’s o.k. for merchants to increase their prices for goods and services during peak business hours? How about walking into Macy’s and being told that your dress cost 50% more on Saturday?

Smart parking systems are gaining traction across the U.S.A. For example,  Portland, Oregon authorized the installation of pay station technology to replace many of its aging parking meters. These stations are solar powered and one station can replace about 6.7 parking meters. You can pay by credit, debit, with a parking card, or even phone in your payment.  These environmentally friendly stations enhance the appearance of the area by eliminating long lines of parking meters. They also increase revenue and ease enforcement.

Other cities using this technology includes Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, Washington, D.C., among others.

You can download some interesting information by clicking on the download link below. The first link is a 6-page white paper discussing the growth and usability of smart parking systems.

What do you think about “smart parking meters” that automatically increase rates during peak traffic hours? Has anyone experienced these “smart parking meters”? Do you think these new meters make it more difficult to fight New York City parking tickets?

Share your opinions. Please post a comment

Download White paper about growth and usability of “Smart Parking Systems”

Download White paper about Smart Parking Systems and their technologies