Two days ago, the New York Times had a really interesting article about something currently going on in one of the most progressive cities in the country: San Francisco. We all know that finding a parking spot in the city can really sucks. What’s worse is that driving around the same block over and over again isn’t getting you very good gas mileage.
San Francisco has an answer for both the anxiety and efficiency of finding a spot: Smartphone accessible parking spot details. Using small wireless sensors, parking spaces will be able to communicate with driver’s smartphones in order to tell them where there are open spots. It’s also possible that in the future you’ll be able to pay for parking over the phone, as well refill the meter without actually walking out to the spot.
This technology could be revolutionary, especially in congestion capitals like New York:
Not that New Yorkers need any reminders of their traffic problems, but a study released in June by Transportation Alternatives, a public transit advocacy group, reported that 28 percent to 45 percent of traffic on some streets in New York City is generated by people circling the blocks.
NYC recently saw it’s congestion pricing plan fail, but if this system works in San Francisco I can see it reducing emissions, fuel use, and stress in congested cities around the world.
Image: jon_a_ross
If you liked this post, sign up for out RSS Feed for automatic updates.
Popularity: 3% [?]
{ 9 comments }
RFID chips, eh? No thanks.
Umm yes please.
RFID in the pavement, not in your car.
Down side is they can tell when to stroll over and write a parking ticket; small price to pay IMHO
We’ve been paying and renewing by cellphone for years in the UK!
@RT
Paranoid much? The RFID chips would be for the parking spaces (if they used them at all). They’re not going to implant them into your skull. Believe it or not, RFID chips do have good uses.
However if you read the small article, it tells you that there would be wireless sensors, not RFID chips. You kinda pulled RFID chips out of your butt.
sorry officer, I was looking at my phone trying to find a parking space when I plowed into the back of ……………………………
In the battery car age, soon upon us, distances traveled will be shortened by G.P.S. and on-board computers, parking will be pre-arranged by cell-phone, we will park three electric cars in the place of one old gas-guzzler’s space, Two battery cars will travel abreast in the width of one gas-guzzler car, gridlock will be resolved by ‘Smart’ lights and computerized , cell-phone communicated info to battery cars. Rude ignorant bully drivers and those who wish to maintain the spirit of the wild west and engage in entertainment driving will be stopped immediately by road sensors and fined heavily. This is not science fiction, this is science’s answer to out current transportation woes! we are here now! Rising oil prices have forced us to change, and it is for the better! please welcome RFID chips on cars, in pavement, at traffic stops, in parking places and on your ass if it means better transportation for all. The oil barons have sunk their last American economy, they have raped our prosperity for the last time, they will soon become parasite nations without a host. The Chinese will follow our example, and the parasites will have to return to the deserts they came from with empty stomachs. We have finally conquered them and our addiction to oil!
I didn’t read anything about RFID, but even still, why the poo-poo of the chips?
FTA: Smartphone Parking is an EcoParker s Dream
Looks like quite a number of people need to brush up on their views of technology and its benefits. The wireless sensors would read only the parking spots and this whole program could expand and benefit our country greatly. Not sure why “Uncle B” is blaming other countries for us invading them for the sake of oil. Equally not sure as to where the hell anyone is getting RFID tags from – where did you even see them mentioned in the article?
Comments on this entry are closed.