As more and more people become drivers and fill cities with cars, parking becomes a more complex problem. Not only does it become more difficult for drivers to find easily accessible parking, but it’s also harder for those who oversee parking management. Parking lots take up a lot of space in a typical city (up to a third of the total area) – that’s a lot of space to manage. In addition, when locating a parking space becomes time-consuming, illegal parking incidents rise. So, why is parking management so complicated, and how does a city balance that with illegal parking management?
Parking Management: Most Common Issues
Several common issues plague parking management in cities worldwide; many existed before the first car was invented. Others, though, have only become issues recently.
The first issue is older cities were not planned around driving cars. Historical cities that existed long before cars typically have narrower streets, only accommodating foot traffic and horse-drawn carts. Such cities do not have the space required to allow ample car parking in modern times, especially as populations continue to grow.
The next major issue facing parking management is the increasing congestion of shopping areas. In addition, facilities and activities tend to be built close together, making it more challenging to manage all the cars that need to be parked in the same place.
Many cities also face the issue of poor planning, as parking lots and streets lack the space required to accommodate the number of cars that need to be parked there. Due to a quick rise in vehicle ownership (many households own more than one car), it has simply become difficult to plan how much space is needed for parking.
Illegal parking becomes an issue because a vehicle parked in the wrong place often obstructs traffic movement, entryways, loading areas, and safety zones (i.e., fire hydrants, emergency vehicle lanes). In addition, dealing with illegal parking is costly and time-consuming.
As you can see, many issues make parking management a hassle. So, what are the potential solutions to this common problem?
Future Solutions
Many measures could resolve these problems, but few have been implemented. One of the most realistic solutions is to utilize smartphones to let drivers know where empty parking spaces are. For example, instead of having to circle a parking area for an extended time, a driver could be alerted of open space and proceed to that spot immediately.
Public transportation can help vehicle congestion and parking problems in larger cities, but the system has to be extensive enough and affordable for high ridership. In addition, it has to be a convenient solution for people to use it.
With driverless cars on the horizon, the parking situation can change dramatically. For example, all parking lots could be on the city’s outskirts. Vehicles could drop riders at their destination then, on their own, find a parking spot outside the city. Then, the car can be summoned for a pickup when the riders are ready.
Any of these solutions require vision and long-term planning – once again making parking management a difficult task.
Unlimited Recovery and Towing
Until better solutions are implemented, towing is necessary to deal with illegal parking management. For professional help with unlawful parking in the Raleigh area, contact Unlimited Recovery and Towing today. Call us at 919-790-9393.
