Last week’s post on wireless parking applications and technology generated an interesting response from our followers. Many examples led us back to San Francisco’s SFPark project (read our original post ‘San Francisco Parking Sensors’ here).
The project is based on Donald Shoup’s theories of market-priced parking rates, with the rates being constantly adjusted to suit demand and supply, working to an ideal occupancy rate of 85%. This is achieved through a series of wireless sensors on the street, sending information to a centralised real-time system used for dynamic meter pricing, discouraging driving when car traffic is too high.
The installation of 8,255 parking vehicle sensors was completed on June 1, with the new wireless parking meters set to be completed within a month.
If you want to know more about the theory behind the project (as well as the practical application of the system in the San Francisco area) we have identified two great resources.
On Streeetsblog San Francisco, you can read an interview with Donald Shoup talking about the relationship between price, occupancy, and congestion. This preceded the SFPark project, but certainly paved the way for it.
Below, you can also view a video from ‘Good’ magazine, which explains the SFPark project and how it all works – for those of you who have not yet seen it before!