Applying Electronics to Transportation

Are planners addressing the full potential of applying electronics to transportation?

Below you will find a draft one of six concepts from the “electronics” portion of the Transportation Chapter of a Fossil Free by 2033 Plan. The Plan is being assembled by a non-profit. My efforts are voluntary. It is difficult to estimate how soon the Plan will be published or if these concepts will survive the environmental non-profit paradigm.

Parking ‘Pooling

Cellphone based parking ‘pooling allows people and businesses to share and reserve parking spots. Potential drivers would know when they had better share a ride or expect to park a half-mile from their destination. In this case, the city or transit agency would operate a geographic information system database of all the available parking spots. The database is informed of parking spot occupancy by a “smart meter” (a GPS locator plugged into a car’s 12-volt power outlet) or the driver’s cellphone.

Drivers would reserve a spot in the general area by telling their cellphone a destination and expected time of arrival. When making a reservation, the phone tells them an estimated parking distance from their destination and the cost for their passenger-mile-per-gallon situation. The driver might select between cost and distance. The system might reward high passenger-mile-per-gallon vehicles with close or low-cost parking.

When the driver is within a few minutes of the destination, the “smart meter,” or pocket navigator, or cellphone provides directions directly to the parking spot.

The city, transit agency, employers, and merchants would be allocated or own parking spaces and could buy and sell parking on a real-time spot market. (Or pay employees for not using a parking spot.) The administrating agency would be paid a portion of the parking fee in exchange for operating the service.

Note that the same 800-lb gorilla technology will shortly make it possible for the car to drop you off in front of your destination, go park itself, and return to pick you up. We may want to provide incentives for the non-handicapped to avoid using this feature.

Parking ‘Pooling Economics – If the careful control of available parking caused 4 to 5 people per vehicle, instead of roughly 1 person, fuel per trip drops to a quarter or a fifth of 2006. There is a practical limit to the average and the peak number of people wanting to park near similar destinations at similar times. This is particularly true for merchants and churches. However, the known lack of nearby parking would be a ‘pooling incentive for shopper and churchgoers. I suggest using 50% for the impact, which represents a doubling of the average people per vehicle.

The cost to the individual or community would be near zero as an increment to the vehicle ‘pooling. It may cost a $million or so to set up the database within an existing geographic information system and for the interconnection hardware and software (especially the first few systems). Businesses might pay for the system in lieu of buying/owning parking spaces. The ‘pooling phones are the primary hardware.

The ongoing cost may be negative in that fewer parking spaces could provide nearly the same level of service. Businesses, churches, and schools could benefit from the “sale” of their parking spaces during “off” times. Some existing parking spaces might be converted to playgrounds, mini-forests, stormwater treating depressions, and bike/pedestrian paths.

A lack of parking would be painful. However, being able to proceed directly to the closest parking without hunting, even if a quarter mile walk to the final destination is a great pain reliever. The concept does mess with some potential campaign contributors. Merchants may be nervous. Privacy advocates will be concerned. Vehicle sales may decrease as vehicle miles decrease, which may upset the auto industry. Reduced traffic congestion reduces the need for new roads or traditional mass transit, potentially upsetting the transportation complex and elected leaders who depend on earmarks for support. Transit agencies may protest a successful ‘pooling program. City and county planning departments will need to adjust their parking space requirements. There is an opportunity for mixed use zoning to take advantage of complementary parking needs.

Parking ‘pooling is technically feasible with 2007 cellphone, navigation, and tracking systems.1 The technology can start with “smart meters” connecting to a wireless net as a substitute for current parking meters. That is – a city or businesses would phase out “dumb” parking meters and “dumb” reserved spots by handing out the “smart parking meter.” At first, the meter applies to limited parking places. Parking ‘pooling costs drop and its appeal increases as it becomes a feature in the complete package of Electronics Applied to Transportation.

1 See advertisements and press releases for Garmin’s nuvi, Openmoko’s Neo1973, Fujitsu Siemens LOOX N100, and Nokia’s N800 Internet tablet in Popular Science, May 2007.