Parking is a perennial driver's headache, one that dredges up the same nauseating cycle of questions; why are there no spaces left? Can my car squeeze into that? Why didn't I buy a smaller car? How long can I leave my car here? Am I going to get towed? Although Wuxi the authorities cannot turn parking the car into a pastime as pleasurable as eating ice cool watermelon on a hot summer day, the introduction of smart parking certainly eliminates a healthy dosage of stress.
Since the start of December, local authorities have trialed 20 smart parking spaces on Huaguang Road in Wuxi's Liangxi district to largely positive customer feedback.
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The first 20 parking spaces featuring sensor and smart lock technology are in trial use on Huaguang Road, Liangxi district, Wuxi. [Photo/wxrb.com] |
The smart parking system is a work of beautiful simplicity and works as follows; driver parks the car, driver leaves car and space locks after 15 minute free period, driver returns, driver enters car details in payment machine, driver pays, driver drives away.
Currently, the pricing matches the standard rates found across the city; 0 to 15 minutes is free, 15 to 59 minutes costs 5 yuan with 4 yuan charged for each additional 30 minutes. At present, the automatic machine can only accept cash payments but will eventually be equipped to handle bank cards and other forms of digital payment.
You Qimiao, a government official, believes the introduction of these spaces will help drivers save time and also reduce stress. Additionally, the smart parking system requires less manpower than current operations and this will help the local government cut costs. A parking credit system has also been proposed whereby drivers with sound reputations will receive parking coupons.
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An automatic parking payment machine near the newly launched smart parking spaces. [Photo/wxrb.com] |
The Huaguang Road lot is the first step in an expansive program and You anticipates the system being widely rolled out in the city's downtown area (possibly a loop around Jiefang Road). One exciting development is the creation of a smart cloud platform enabling drivers to quickly and reliably find vacant parking spaces using an APP.
The smart parking scheme may still be in its developmental stage but, once it matures, seems certain to ameliorate the driving lives of Wuxi residents.
