The New Science of Parking: Round 2
If the announcement of new automated parking systems wet your appetite, consider this tidbit to be another appetizer. Recently announced, startup venture Spot Scout Inc., is planning on revolutionizing the way we locate and pay for municipal parking spots. Currently in the venture capitol stages, the service aims to unite car owners and lot managers via a seemless online interface. Parking lots would post locations of available spots on the Spot Scout website, with prospective parkers able to log in, post their departure/arrival time, bid on parking spots, and pre-pay for slots that they plan on using within a specific time-frame. Thus eliminating the aggravation of having to actually search for a place to park your vehicle. No word on launch date, or participation fees (if any). Would any of you actually use such a service?
[via Yahoo News]
On Feb 28, 2007 @ 5:51 pm, Brad Said:
by Venture Capitol you means it hasn’t gotten past the Senate?
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On Feb 28, 2007 @ 10:31 pm, Daniel Said:
I think that for a while it would have just enough use to make it cost effective. The people who need long term parking places (month-by-month) generally already have their spaces scouted out and reserved in special lots. The spontaneous parking is generally what people have the most problem with. I don’t believe enough people know how to use the WAP browser enough on their phones and mobile devices to make this really useful on the streets, unless perhaps they find a way to integrate it with the ever growing-in-popularity Navigation systems in cars..
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On Mar 1, 2007 @ 11:05 am, T Stanton Said:
Seems like an alright idea in dense urban areas. I don’t know if the scope is broad enough to make it profitable across the entire country.
I would use it if urban parking were a problem for me. However, alot of it depends on the reliabilty of ‘SPOT’ data. If we’re relying on semi-literate parking attendants to actually keep accurate records of the spots????
Not to mention - if you can bid online - you might be able to pass the lot attendant a $20 or $50 if you REALLY needed that spot. Thus - it could merely succeed in creating a black market for parking spots….the apocalypse is upon us.
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