Smart Parking Spaces In San Francisco 202
2centplain sends along a report in the NYTimes on San Francisco's smart parking initiative. He asks, "Any guesses on the when this will be hacked? Like, 'reserving' an empty spot by convincing a sensor that a car is actually parked there, or, perhaps using the wireless mesh network for some other purpose?" Quoting: "This fall, San Francisco will test 6,000 of its 24,000 metered parking spaces in the nation's most ambitious trial of a wireless sensor network that will announce which of the spaces are free at any moment. Drivers will be alerted to empty parking places either by displays on street signs, or by looking at maps on screens of their smartphones. They may even be able to pay for parking by cellphone, and add to the parking meter from their phones without returning to the car."
Re:So long, thanks for all the gas. (Score:3, Informative)
You mean the internal combustion engine? I doubt it. Europe has been paying even more than the US right now for gas, and they all still drive. If gas goes up too much more, it will become cost effective to make the gas out of other sources. Still plenty of coal left, even neglecting all of the "bio-xxx".
Even then, people would not give up their cars. I live in NYC and don't need a car, but in the 'burbs I sure would have bought an electric and put up with the crappy range rather than give up a car altogether.
Re:So long, thanks for all the gas. (Score:5, Informative)
On the other hand, over here in Europe out cars get good MPG, so even though we pay more for petrol, we don't pay that much. There's very few 8-15 MPG petrol guzzlers over here. :)
Re:So long, thanks for all the gas. (Score:4, Informative)
Yeah, but over in europe, the gallons are bigger...
NPR story: "Help for S.F. Parking Nightmare?" (Score:3, Informative)
Re:what a quote.... (Score:3, Informative)
Yes, Portland has that technology. There are also signs at the ends of rows indicating how many free spots there are. A sign at the entrance shows how many free spots there are on each floor of the garage.
It really makes short term parking at the airport nicer. You are effectively directed to a spot.
Also...
When crossing the bridges into downtown there are signs showing the number of open spots in each of the city run garages. Slightly helpful in choosing among garages in the general area you are going.
PDX Parking Garage (Score:2, Informative)
The Portland International Airport's short term parking garage has overhead signs that tell you, at each turn, how many empty spaces there are on that row. Then above each spot is a red or green light. You can see the status of every space immediately when you turn on to the row. Very handy.
As far as hacking the sensors goes, we (society) have been using metal detectors to trip traffic lights for years, and an electric eye could check for size. It would require a large metal object to mark the space occupied. Then, the meter would require payment for the space. If it isn't paid for the meter maid shows up to discover a non-vehicle that isn't being paid for and removes it. The next vehicle to show up gets flagged in a database. If the same vehicle gets flagged repeatedly for showing up after a 'hacked' meter you send in the investigators.
Most of that already exists... in Winnipeg (Score:2, Informative)
Many US, Canadian and UK cities are served by Verrus [verrus.com] for paying parking in certain parking lots (even on street in some places, but not here) with a cell phone by dialling a number and having an account with them, easily setup online. Here in Winnipeg they also offer pay by text. The only other place they offer that is in the UK. I pay by phone Mon-Fri for parking downtown, and it's super convenient. Saves hauling around $5 in change and having to stop at the ticket machine on the way into the lot.
Within the last couple years, the City of Winnipeg [winnipeg.ca] instituted a set of brand new parking machines, eliminating most if not all old on-pole parking meters. You can pay by credit card, coins, and as of at least May, by phone [www.cbc.ca]. You can even pay your fine online [imiservices.com].
What we DON'T have is the wireless signs that show number of spots free. In San Francisco, with a metro population of 7 some million, compared to Winnipeg's paltry 694,000, and a population density more than 4.5 times higher than Winnipeg, finding a space is likely a lot harder. We usually just need to drive around the block to find some, never mind the fact that the number of surface parking lots here is very high.
Re:Parking? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:So long, thanks for all the gas. (Score:4, Informative)
I had to re-read this paragraph...
"I don't avoid public transportation because of poor people, but mostly because of dangerous, violent lunatics, who threaten people just because they're bored. Also because of stupid kids that have nothing better to do than scream and wave their mobile phones around." ...to realize that you were talking about public transportation. I don't know how, but I missed the first part. Everything after the word because fits nicely with driving as well. You know... road ragers... the lunatics who threaten people just because they are bored (or in a hurry, or mad at their spouse, etc.). Also because of the stupid kids that have nothing better to do than scream and wave their mobile phones around while they drive.
But the assumption that public transportation is the same everywhere as that one bus ride you took that was full of escapees from the Asylum... that's just stupid man. The public transportation system in Portland Oregon is pretty fantastic. Now, in Vegas, the buses are notoriously late (quite common to see one bus on a route passing another bus on that same route, where they should be separated by minutes if not an hour). In Boston, the only way to get across the city is by using the T. Driving can take you 4 hours or more, while jumping on the Orange line in Malden, changing trains in Downtown crossing, and hopping the Red line to Braintree will take you half an hour total. In fact, if you want to visit Boston and you don't live near it, the best way is to park at the end of one of the T lines, and ride in.
My experience with public transportation in Washington DC, Tallahassee Fl, Las Vegas, Boston MA, Providence RI, Portland Or, Milwaukee Wi, New Orleans La, and Dallas Tx has always been good. I've never been on a bus or train with screaming violent lunatics (of any age). This includes my cross-country bus trips as well as my cross-country train trips. And I've done several of both. So I've got more proof that public transportation is safe and pleasant, than you have proof that it is not. And I don't even feel like I have to carry a gun to secure my trip. But, with car jacking and the like, I guess it's not surprising that you feel the need to drive alone and armed.
Re:So long, thanks for all the gas. (Score:3, Informative)
High prices did spur better investment in public transportation in Europe, while in America low gas prices created a culture where everyone young and old thinks he needs his own car.
Actually, the low cost of personal transportation vehicles created an American suburban landscape where everyone does need his own car. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy which has been covered in more depth than I could ever hope to mine here. The active destruction of many of America's public transportation resources by General Motors was a major contributing factor which is also well-reported.
If you haven't read it yet, pick up a copy of James Howard Kunstler's The Geography of Nowhere. Kunstler provides a very insightful account of the systematic failure of American foresight since at least the early 20th Century that has propagated at an ever increasing rate an unsustainable way of life from which there is no easy retreat.
Re:So long, thanks for all the gas. (Score:3, Informative)