Even parking downtown is being touched by technology's sweeping arm...
In a pilot project, SFpark would cover 6,425 curbside spaces regulated by parking meters, totalling a quarter of the city's total stock, and the 11,677 spaces in lots and garages. What does it do? People pay not just with coins, but also through credit cards, debit cards and even cellphones. If a meter is about to expire, the driver receives a text message. Payment can also be added remotely.
Another cool innovation is the addition of sensors embedded in the asphalt, designed to keep track of when a parking spot is empty.
Mayor Gavin Newsom told the
San Francisco Chronicle:
"The idea is to give people more choice, more convenience and to reduce congestion."
Now that's an idea I can see city council backing. After all, urban cores are notorious for parking-lot mayhem, and any technology that can make that chaos easier to manage would definitely be a welcome addition to the city.
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