Comments on: Parking meter arbitrage

By: James Holmes

James Holmes — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:11:27 +0000

This is an Aussie solution to this very problem:

http://www.cashlessparking.com.au/index.html

By: Jacob Sikais

Jacob Sikais — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:56:35 +0000

I came across the Europark parking test card which made outrageous claims of ‘beating the system’… nonetheless it was something I had to test for myself… the good news it worked in Australia (I thought this might not be the case as the company is based in Canada).

By: mablt

mablt — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:41:39 +0000

Resetting meters . . . they exist already . . . http://www.engadget.com/2005/12/20/photoviolationmeter-takes-cash-cards-and-your-picture/

By: mablt

mablt — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:25:15 +0000

Hmmm. Yes, cell phone credit are the future, and these meters are sneaking into more cities. Most US folks still deal with coin of the realm though.

And why don’t meters reset to zero when the car leaves? Think of the extra revenue at high volume places like airport short term parking if you sell the same space twice . . .

By: Oyvind

Oyvind — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:40:01 +0000

Here in Norway we now pay with the mobile phone. Register your phone and your car, and then just txt the number on the meter to the parking service number.

It even sends you a text message when it’s 10 minutes left.

Coins are so 80s…

By: Joshua Strebel

Joshua Strebel — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 20:42:15 +0000

I just realized you have PR7.. nice

By: Joshua Strebel

Joshua Strebel — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 20:40:16 +0000

Do it with transponders like they do with tollroads. e-debit your account.

By: Steve Swedler

Steve Swedler — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:20:23 +0000

The people who get away with a few minutes now and then are offset by those that leave change in the meter when they leave, and vice versa. Besides, the actual profit to use margin is irrelevant under the current system, and the true economics are fuzzy. But I agree that the conventional wisdom would suggest that the parking tickets and change left over is advantageous to profitability, however I would be willing to bet that if (assuming it could be implemented cost-effectively) they implemented RF devices like the iPass toll system in Illinois, they would make more profit. This would likely be for two reasons: 1 the amount they have to spend per year to maintain and police the situation would be significantly less and 2 – the amount of revenue generated would probably be higher. I have zero data to back this up, but it might be a good topic for the Freakonomics guys.

By: James Holmes

James Holmes — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 16:02:29 +0000

This is an Aussie solution to this very problem:

http://www.cashlessparking.com.au/index.html

By: TOMAS

TOMAS — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 00:38:53 +0000

Very interesting idea you have here Sean. I don’t have the need for a parking meter anymore since my school situation has changed, but I definitely do remember having to roll the dice every time I visited ASU for an evening class since I would end up with 15 minutes from the time my meter expired to the time my class ended & twice I came away with parking tickets.