As a cyclist, I see parking meters as nothing more than a place to chain my bike. For motorists, they are hungry monsters that need feeding regularly, if you can even find a free one to begin with. San Francisco?s new meters are set to change that, adjusting the prices automatically depending on demand.
Part of the two-year SFpark experiment, the new meters will detect how in-demand are the spaces they govern. Based on this info, the prices will be adjusted up and down, from 25-cents up to $6 per hour. The plan is to price parking at a rate that keeps around 20% of spaces free. This will mean that you can always find a spot, and will in turn mean less people are driving round and round the block looking for a space.
The prices won?t fluctuate wildly during the course of a day. The changes will be slow and self-leveling: the prices will change once a month or less, and then only by 50-cents at a time. You?ll be spared running into a store to make change, too: the new meters will also accept credit-cards and soon, an SFMTA card.
It seems that everyone will win here, although I?m a little worried about one of the new machines being introduced. Along with the traditional meters on sticks, there is a new meter which sits at the side of the road, governing all the spots on a street. It?s more efficient for cars, but where will I lock my bike?
Demand-Responsive Pricing [SFpark via Switched]
See Also:
May 13, 1935: Enter the Parking Meter
Smart Parking Meters Hacked ? Free Parking For All!
Cell Phones, Internet Bring Parking Meters into the 21st Century ?
Follow us for real-time tech news: Charlie Sorrel and Gadget Lab on Twitter.
EARTHLINK
EBAY
EEE PC
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment