A total solution to the parking problem in Brussels thanks to a method of paying for parking by mobile phone
The
proposed solution is presented as an advantageous scenario for both drivers and
the communes. The communes will provide hassle-free parking for drivers while
increasing their revenue and, in addition, reducing operating costs.
Having
completed a fast registration process, drivers can easily activate the parking
facility using their smartphone (iPhone and Android) thanks to a location
application in a single activation click.
- On-road
parking
To park on
the road, drivers will have two solutions to activate their parking. They can
send a one-line text message that includes the name of the town or city and the
zone (commune). The second solution is to activate the parking facility by
means of an Interactive Voice Response system, a voice recognition function
that drivers can use to give the name of the town or city and choose the
parking zone. The program will warn drivers when their parking time is over ten
minutes in advance and if they wish, they will be able to renew their parking
time from their smartphone without having to return to their vehicle.
- Off-road
parking
For
off-road parking in surface and covered car parks, an Automatic Licence Plate
Recognition system (ALPR) activates automatic payment via the smartphone
without drivers having to look for a payment terminal. They simply have to park
and when the vehicle leaves the car park, payment is made automatically. There
is no need to look for a payment machine, credit card or change.
This method
saves time for drivers and earns more revenue for car park owners as drivers
pay for the full time they have parked, from the moment they enter the car park
until the moment they leave, without the free first 15 minutes.
This
application can also provide drivers with information about the availability of
parking facilities in the zone where they want to stop. Drivers can view
information maps indicating streets, parking places and car parks in the area.
This is especially decisive given that 30 % of the traffic in some areas
consists of people looking for parking places. Drivers can consult the parking
rates, see the prices displayed on the map and compare costs. They can find the
cheapest and nearest car park available. And their payment headache disappears.
What colour is the zone? Do you have to pay? How much? These questions are
settled automatically by the application
The
application also includes a function that enables drivers to request certain
services while their vehicle is parked, such as cleaning the car, repairing a
flat tyre or filling the tank.
- Advantages for the commune
The proposed solution has advantages not
only for drivers, but also for the communes, which can make the most of the
many benefits it offers. As regards operation, the communes can put forward a
flexible parking policy with appropriate rates for appropriate times. Moreover,
vandalism becomes a thing of the past because the solution does not require any
hardware.
The application is highly efficient, using WAP (‘Wireless Application
Protocol’) and ‘Meter Integration Technology’.
From a financial point of view, the operating costs will fall because there is
no need for costly infrastructure. The solution is risk free as it involves no
start-up costs.
On the other hand, drivers will be more willing to use both outdoor and covered
car parks, enjoying the benefits of efficiency. They will make greater use of
the proper parking areas and this will increase revenue for the communes.
The municipal authorities can continue to use existing methods at the same
time: parking meters and automatic payment terminals in car parks. Public
opinion is also an important factor for the communes.
Deploying this program provides an innovative, advanced and easy-to-use payment
method for drivers, creating a positive attitude towards the municipal
authorities and making drivers more disposed to pay for parking.
