A Matter of Trust –
Part 2
In my blog entry a couple of days ago, entitle a Matter of Trust, I suggested that Changeable Message Signs (CMS) or Variable Message Signs (VMS) used for parking are vulnerable to accuracy issues. Let’s look at Melbourne, Australia.
Melbourne operates a number of CMS to display availability in downtown lots, and Australian parking specialists say that the accuracy of these signs is questioned by local drivers, although I am not sure whether this is based on actual inaccuracies or simply a lack of confidence. However, where third-party lot operators are providing availability data on their own parking lots to government authorities like Melbourne, accuracy may be questionable.
“Each car park involved has its own computer system which tracks the number of parking spaces available/occupied by movements through the boom gates,” explains Melbourne City Councillor Kevin Louey, Chair of the Connected City Committee. “The correct information is largely dependant on the accuracy of the car park operator.”
“As information is provided through the car park’s computer system, any errors are translated to the signs,” Louey adds. “In addition, the operator is able to alter the number of spaces to encourage or discourage users.”
It appears that parking lot operators could easily provide inaccurate data through negligence, inadvertently or even deliberately.
An interesting additional note -- Louey says, “The system was first initiated in response to surveys which indicated that there was a perception the Central Business District did not have sufficient off street parking capacity to cater for visitors despite the fact some 40,000 spaces were available at that time.”
So Melbourne, like many urban areas, was already dealing with a lack of confidence in the availability of parking. It seems to combat this issue, the first priority for an urban area that maintains these types of message signs should be a strict policy to ensure accuracy of the parking availability information.
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